WORD UP: An Open Letter to Encourage Mutual Citizen Support

New York City Artists Unite to Support the Rockaways and the Flooded Areas of New York City

Dear Mayor Bloomberg,

The Rockaways geographically, as you know, are the area that is breaking the waves between the Atlantic Ocean and JFK Airport and New York City in general. Demographically, it is very diverse and not a privileged area.

In recent years, the Rockaways became an incredible inspiration and haven for the artists and creative community of New York. As the Rockaways are, at their best, a melting pot between the local community and the creative energies of the city, it is a location where New York is anticipating and creating the images and dreams we all live on. 

Hurricane Sandy completely devastated the peninsula, and a couple of days after the storm, families with children are still standing next to their destroyed and ruined houses trying to keep warm without food, water, electricity, heat, or internet.

The artistic community is sending you this letter to support the city in your amazing, monumental efforts in all boroughs to save our city and to encourage the creative communities in New York to invent exemplary ways of helping our neighbors and fellow New Yorkers!

Respectfully yours,

Marina Abramovic, Doug Aitken, Francis Alÿs, Darren Aronofsky, Tauba Auerbach, Matthew Barney, Klaus Biesenbach, Adrien Brody, Giada Colagrande, Francisco Costa, Anthony D. Curcio Jr., Willem Dafoe, Anna Deavere Smith, Roe Ethridge, James Franco, Lady Gaga, Antony Hegarty, Jonathan Horowitz, Spike Jonze, Steven Klein, Terence Koh, Padma Lakshmi, Madonna, Laurel Nakadate, Gwyneth Paltrow, Richard Phillips, Jonathan Pierce, Rob Pruitt, Terry Richardson, Rockaway Artists Alliance, Cynthia Rowley, Cindy Sherman, Jenny Shimizu, Patti Smith, Michael Stipe, Mickalene Thomas, Ryan Trecartin, Liv Tyler, Gus Van Sant, Martha Wainwright, Rufus Wainwright, Rachel Weisz, and Italo Zuchelli

Please spread the word, post it, tweet it, or email to friends! 

Help Victims of Hurricane Sandy through the American Red Cross

ANNOUNCEMENT: Hurricane Sandy Assistance for Visual Artists

JOAN MITCHELL FOUNDATION OFFERS AID TO VISUAL ARTISTS IMPACTED BY HURRICANE SANDY

The following statement was posted on the Joan Mitchell Foundation web site on November 2, 2012:

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy we hope this message finds you, your families, friends and colleagues well, and that you have been able to ride out this storm safely.

Our thoughts are with those who have been deeply impacted by this week's events. We know that for many of you your losses are tremendous, impacting not only yourselves, but your entire community as well.

If you are - or know of - a visual artist who has been affected by the hurricane please contact us. The Foundation has funding allocated specifically for emergency assistance to painters and sculptors affected by natural disasters. Additionally, we have access to information about other organizations that may be able to assist you.

If you are an arts organization working with visual artists and have been negatively impacted, please reach out to us as well. We are working in partnership with other funders to assess the needs of the visual arts community and identify the best ways of supporting its recovery.

In the meantime, for anyone who has been impacted, we urge you to document your losses as thoroughly as possible. This should be done by taking photographs and keeping records of damage to your home, studio, office, and/or artwork, as well as keeping records of all related expenses going forward.

Please note that due to the hurricane, the Foundation's office is closed and we cannot be reached by phone until power is restored to West Chelsea. We know that communication for many is very limited now, but our staff can be reached by email at: info@joanmitchellfoundation.org. Additionally you can contact us through our Facebook page here.

Please share your stories, your experiences, and let us know if you need assistance. We're here to help.

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