Art Bash: Igniting the Radical Imagination, Artivism Brunch, Art Auction & Dance Party

On October 21, 2018, Groundswell hosted its annual Art Bash benefit, this year titled “Igniting the Radical Imagination,” at The William Vale Hotel.

Theme was inspired by the words of Robin D.G. Kelley, author of Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination:

“Without new visions, we don’t know what to build, only what to knock down. We not only end up confused, rudderless, and cynical, but we forget that making a revolution is not a series of clever maneuvers and tactics, but a process that can and must transform us.”

Groundswell was proud to honor New York City Council Member Carlos Menchaca, the arts advocacy initiative Stand For the Arts, the community gardeners of Ingersoll Garden of Eden and the founding members of art collective TATS Cru. Community members, artists and activists attended the  benefit brunch, which included a silent art auction, performances by Black Women Artists for Black Lives Matter and a dance party with music by DJ Daigoro. The auction featured over 60 pieces curated by our inaugural curation committee and included work from TATS Cru, Guerrilla Girls and numerous up-and-coming artists. Through art sales, company sponsorships, event tickets and generous donations, Groundswell raised critical funds to support teaching artists and youth stipends, program materials and more.

Thank you to the Benefit Committee, the Curation Committee, everyone who donated to the live auction, our guests, the honorees, and our Benefit Sponsors and Supporters.

Benefit Transformer Sponsor:

• Cumberland Packing Corporation (Sugar In The Raw)

Organizer:

• Steven & Jennifer Eisenstadt
• Ovation TV

Change Agent:

• Bloomberg Philanthropies
• Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

Ally:

• Con Edison
• Spectrum & Charter Communications

Artivist:

• Ackler Wealth Management
• Hannes Bend
• Jennifer Brennan
• Hovey Brock
• Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation
• Ronald Draper
• Sherry Kerlin
• Adam & Diane Max
• Sarah & Joel McHale
• Leila Yassa & David Mendels
• Susan Ochshorn & Marc Gross
• Open Society Foundations
• Richard & Lisa Witten
• Antonia Wright

Friend:

• Adco Foundation (Dana-Ain Davis)
• Louisa Armbrust
• Alex Barrett
• Karen Brooks Hopkins
• Joseph Charczenko
• Colgate Scaffolding (Peter O’Farrell)
• DalyGonzalez
• Fine Family Charitable Foundation
• Grace Graupe-Pillard
• Mary Beth Kelly
• Rob Krulak
• Powerhouse Workshop
• Madhukant Shah
• Seidman Family Foundation
• Merle Temkin
• Vicus Partners 

Event Partners:

• Bronx Brewery
• Tito’s Handmade Vodka
• The William Vale

Thank you again for supporting the youth and teaching artists of Groundswell!