SHOW OF THE WEEK: Art for Charlie, Shows and Auction

The Art for Charlie annual Art Show and Auction on November 13 at the East Lansing Marriott will bring together artists from across the globe and give attendees the opportunity to purchase original drawings, paintings, photographs and sculptures. Among nationally known artists contributing work are Gary Kim from Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Mark Mehaffey from Williamston, Michigan.

The show is from 6 to 9 pm. Guests will enjoy live entertainment, light hors d'oeuvres and both live and silent auctions. Tickets are $35 each and available at Schuler Books & Music stores in Lansing, Okemos and Grand Rapids or online HERE.

The Art for Charlie Foundation is named after Charlie Waller, a Marble Elementary School student who died from a brain tumor at the age of five in December, 2013. The Foundation raises funds for families facing the tragedy of life-limiting illness or the death of a child.

Prior to the main show there will be a Children’s Art Show on November 1 and 2 at the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum to celebrate creativity and view student art commissioned from several schools in the area. The public will be able to vote on the children's art from 12-4 pm on Saturday, November 1. The children's art will also be on display Sunday, November 2, from 10-5 pm. The show will then move to the lobby of the Marriott from November 3 to November 13. The children’s art will be available for purchase on Tuesday, November 11, for pick up later. Noodles & Co will donate a portion of their proceeds on November 11 if diners mention Art for Charlie between 4 and 7 pm.

The Art Show & Auction will help to support the first of its kind Pediatric Hospice and Bereavement Conference on November 1 organized by the Art for Charlie Foundation in partnership with the MSU College of Human Medicine, Hospice of Michigan and the Peoples Church of East Lansing. This brings together hospice workers and caregivers from across the state to define and remedy the gaps in resources for dealing with the death or terminal diagnosis of a child and the impact of bereavement from the death of a child on the family and community.

The Art for Charlie Foundation is also launching a #CouragetobeKind social media campaign on Halloween (Charlie's favorite holiday) to coincide with World Kindness Day on November 13 (the day of the annual art show and auction). The Foundation encourages recipients of #Couragetobekind notecards and social media flyers to complete an act of kindness and spread the word using hashtag #CouragetobeKind, encouraging others to be kind every day. Volunteers will be giving out these notecards to trick-or-treaters throughout East Lansing on Halloween, and they will be available at all Art for Charlie functions. The campaign goes beyond World Kindness Day, promoting the idea of kindness every day and recognizing, as Charlie recognized, that it can take courage to be kind.

To date, over $50,000 has been raised by Art for Charlie to support hospitals and hospices and to provide individual grants for families in need.

Tali Hylen volunteers her services to the Art for Charlie Foundation.