Urban Art Association

Little Kids Rock Fundraiser to 2/21 DavidBlake art, by rka00 on Feb 10, 2011 22:33:38 GMT 1, The Cause
Artist David Blake has created a very limited “Don’t Take Your Guns to Town Kurt” print using “diamond dust” to auction off with 100% of the proceeds to be donated to the nonprofit organization, Little Kids Rock. Below are David’s comments about the organization’s mission and his desire to support its cause.

“I spent a considerable amount of time researching a charity to which the proceeds would be donated and ultimately landed on Little Kids Rock (LKR). LKR partners with school districts and teachers across the country to restore and revitalize their music programs by providing kids with free music classes and musical instruments. I believe that giving children in low-income communities positive outlets – through music or art – can keep them off the streets and provide them with a sense of pride and accomplishment. While music could not save Kurt, I believe it can save other at-risk kids from the pitfalls of drug and alcohol abuse and give them hope for a bright future. I will be donating 100% of the proceeds of the sale of this print to LKR and will be providing proof of donation on my site. You can learn more about Little Kids Rock at

The following is insight from David about the original image and the piece he created specifically for the auction:

“I think most people jump to the conclusion that the guns in the background represent the fact that Kurt committed suicide by shooting himself; but, this isn’t necessarily the case. While designing the piece I was thinking about the fact that although we are constantly surrounded with signs that warn us of danger, it is often our own minds and the decisions we make that put us at the greatest risk. As it relates to Kurt specifically, I thought about the first time he tried heroin and how he likely convinced himself that he would not become addicted…about how later he would convince himself that there was no other option but to commit suicide even though he had a brilliant career ahead of him as well as a young child…and about how ironic it was that most people would die to have all that he seemed to have, but all he wanted to do was die. I asked myself whether the real danger was the loaded shotgun or the loaded thoughts that haunted his troubled mind.

After discussing some ideas to transform the remaining test prints with Robert we agreed that applying “diamond dust” in the area around Kurt’s image would be a great addition make it an original. The diamond dust is made from tiny pieces of crushed antique silver mirror, which creates a visual effect that does not translate in the photo. It was added to represent the countless number of people who die every year as a result of drug and alcohol addiction. It represents the lives that are torn apart and the shattered fragments that are left behind to remind us of the dangers of addiction. The mirrors that no longer reflect the images of the loved ones lost.”

Details About the Artwork and the Auction
For detailed pics, go to David’s blog www.davidblakeart.com.

Signed and numbered by the artist (Edition size: 2)
2 color screen print
"Diamond dusted” with antique mirror
Paper size: 17" x 14"
Image size: 12.5" x 8"
Printed on Canson 90 LB Watercolor Paper

The auction will run for 7 days beginning on February 14 at 9:00 a.m. USA Pacific Standard Time (PST) and ending on February 21 at 9:00 p.m. PST. There are only two places where bids will be accepted, on the Expresso Beans (EB) website in the LKR fundraising thread forum.Expressobeans/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=63372
and on David’s blog. For bidding purposes, the EB and blog date/time stamp will be noted.

On February 18 at 9:00 p.m. PST, the highest bid as of that time will be posted within this thread and on David’s blog. The payment for the winning bid will be made directly to David through his store at www.blakeart.bigcartel.com.


Thank you for your consideration, please help support Little Kids Rock and its cause.
Robert

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