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Bono Attends Third (RED) Auction In Miami

Good Celebrity — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 19:58:10 +0000

On 5 December, 2018, in Miami, (RED), Sotheby’s and Gagosian came together to raise $5.5 million to support the fight against AIDS.

The third (RED) Auction totaled nearly $11 million, including matching funds by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Curated by art and architecture stars Theaster Gates and Sir David Adjaye OBE in collaboration with musician and activist Bono, the auction featured contemporary art and design donated by Jenny Saville, Sean Scully, Sir Jony Ive and Marc Newson, Jennifer Guidi, Frank Ghery, Christo, Jeff Koons and many more prominent creators. In addition, Sir David Adjaye and Theaster Gates created unique pieces for the sale.

Centered on the theme of light and the color red, the auction was led by Theaster Gates ‘A Flag for The Least of Them,’ which achieved $807,000, an auction record for the artist. Additional auction records were set for artists including Jennifer Guidi, Ebony G. Patterson, Hank Willis Thomas and Leo Villareal.

Now closed for bidding, the accompanying (RED) Online sale helped bring the total raised to nearly $11M for the fight to end AIDS. The online auction was led by Ti-A Thuy Nguyen’s ‘Scarlet Mist,’ which sold for $100,000 and set an auction record for the artist. The public exhibition presented by Gagosian, designed by Rene Gonzalez Architects and produced by Claire Breukel, was on view at the Moore Building through 7 December. The building donated by Craig Robins.

To date, (RED) has generated more than $600 million for the Global Fund to support lifesaving HIV/AIDS programs in Africa. Proceeds from the evening will go to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS to provide life-saving HIV/AIDS programs in sub-Saharan Africa, while also helping to fund community-strengthening programs in Chicago with the Rebuild Foundation – an organization championed by Theaster Gates.

The December event follows two previous (RED) Auctions conducted by Sotheby’s. The first, organized by Bono and Damien Hirst in February 2008, featured works donated by Hirst, Banksy, Anish Kapoor, Marc Quinn, Georg Baselitz and Howard Hodgkin, among others, and established 17 new auction records. The second, curated by Jony Ive and Marc Newson in 2013, offered important 20th- and 21st-century design, and attracted matching funds for the AIDS fight from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Bono, (RED) co-founder, commented, “These auctions have been game changing for the AIDS fight. It’s not just about the cash they bring in, which is literally lifesaving – but it’s also about the heat, about keeping this epidemic on the public agenda. Art has always been a vehicle for activism and for truth telling and the truth of the matter is that we’re at a pivotal point where the progress we’ve achieved is in real jeopardy. Theaster and David – and all the artists here tonight – are raising the red flag at a critical time when fatigue and complacency are very real threats to the future of this virus.”

“Conjuring this exhibition has been such a privilege. We are so grateful to the art, architecture and design community, all of our friends and colleagues who stepped up for the third (RED) Auction to contribute such beautiful work,” said Sir David Adjaye.

“Pieces of work that now will extend beyond traditional utility and serve an even greater purpose in helping save lives,” continued Theaster Gates.

Oliver Barker, Chairman of Sotheby’s Europe and the auctioneer for the (RED) Auctions, said, “It has been an incredible honor for Sotheby’s to partner with (RED) for a third auction in the fight against AIDS. Bono, Theaster and David have been extraordinary collaborators, and the enthusiasm of the artists who donated works of contemporary art and design had a direct impact on the outstanding prices achieved tonight.”

Larry Gagosian commented, “It is an honor to support my friend Bono and (RED) in their impactful, and necessary, work in the global fight against AIDS. Sir David and Theaster were the perfect choice to curate the auction as they are two artists who best speak to the times in which we live. Since the first auction 10 years ago with Damien Hirst, I continue to be proud of the art community for their unwavering generosity and support.”

“(RED) is making spectacular contributions to the fight to end AIDS, creating powerful collaborations infused with innovation and imagination to save lives and accelerate our progress towards ending the epidemic,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund.

This article originally appeared on Look To The Stars.

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A Complete Guide to Sir Elton John’s Global Charity Work

Good Celebrity — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 16:31:39 +0000

To say Sir Elton John is a pop singer is a massive understatement.

Among the many accomplishments throughout his five-decade career are over fifty Top 40 songs, more than 300 million records sold, seven consecutive #1 albums in the U.S. and the best-selling single in the history of the U.K. and U.S. charts (Princess Diana tribute song, “Candle in the Wind 1997”)

But it’s off the stage and outside of the studio where the England-native truly shines. Through his charitable, Sir Elton has touched countless lives across the globe and is truly a celebrity doing good.

Elton John Aids Foundation

The entertainer has long been a champion of LGBT rights. In the 1980’s he became involved in the fight against the disease that has claimed so many of the people in the community, AIDS.

Started in the U.S. 1992 and U.K. a year later, the non-profit EJAF helps people stricken with the with HIV and AIDS (regardless of sexual orientation) through philanthropic work, education, and generous donations which have totaled more than $350 million since its inception.

“Seven thousand men, women, and children become HIV-infected every day. We have both the moral obligation and the power to end this epidemic,” Sir Elton said in a letter on the organization’s website.

The EJAF hosts annual fundraising events including the Academy Awards Viewing Party, An Enduring Vision fall gala, and the Smash Hits tennis charity event, which raised $600,000 in 2016.

“This highly successful event brings the 24-year cumulative total of dollars raised by Smash Hits to more than $15 million for EJAF’s grant-making initiatives supporting HIV/AIDS-related advocacy, prevention, stigma reduction, and direct treatment, care, and service programs across the United States, the Americas, and the Caribbean,” Sir Elton said in a press release following the event.

In addition to his HIV and AIDS prevention work, Sir Elton has also supported organizations that fight for children stricken with cancer and against diseases such as multiple sclerosis and breast cancer.

Environment

Sir Elton is a staunch supporter of environmental issues and his beliefs are represented at the EJAF where employees are encouraged to recycle, minimize energy and water use, and participate in the Cycle to Work scheme, which is a U.K. government initiative that promotes cycling to work.

He has also participated in the Rock for the Rainforest concert, which benefits the Rainforest Foundation Fund, and had his singing services auctioned off for $3 million to assist the Leonardo Dicaprio Foundation in 2015.

He’s also a champion of endangered animal rights, teaming with Dicaprio and Nicole Kidman in the fight against the poaching of elephants.

Elton John Sports Fund

An avid sports fan, Sir Elton teamed with U.K. charity SportsAid for a fundraising concert in 2014 to launch the Elton John Sports Fund.

“Thanks to your support, we will be able to fund young athletes for the next eight years to help make their dreams come true. Thank you!” Elton said to the crowd at Stoke Park Golf Club after raising £300,000.

Funds from the organization benefit aspiring Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

“It is important in sport as much as music that we give a platform to people who show promise – the impact of that recognition can be huge, it tells them the sacrifices are worth it,” he said in an interview with BBC in 2015.

“I also once heard someone say: ‘All musicians want to be sports stars and all sports stars want to be musicians.’ I think there’s an element of truth in that!”

Social Causes

Sir Elton also supports youth causes be it for LGBT through
The Trevor Project and American Foundation for Equal Rights, or for kids of all races, ethnicities, and creeds with the STOMP Out Bullying campaign.

Knighthood

While his career highlights earned him international stardom, it’s his good deeds that earned him the “Sir” in front of hi name.

In 1998, Queen Elizabeth II knighted Elton John for his charity work, making him the first openly gay musician to receive the honor.

Photo Credit: Facebook

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