LIFEBEAT CELEBRITY ART AUCTION 11-18-02
FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO THANK: all the artists who collaborated on this painting with me for LIFEbeat's celebrity art auction. Lil' Kim, Jay-Z, Cam'ron, Usher, Ashanti, Mario, Redman, and Ja Rule. I'd also like to thank the people who had to back out last minute or I couldn't get pieces from due to time constraints and conflicting schedules: L. L. Cool J, and Angie Stone, Busta Rhymes, Alicia Keys, DMX, Foxy Brown, Eve, Eminem, and Master P.
While I'm at it I have to give props to everyone's P.R. people and friends for helping out with getting it all wrapped up and squared away without all your help, this project would have gone nowhere. I'd also like to give my condolences and respects to the families of L.L.Cool J and Angie Stone who both lost loved ones last week. I know how tough that can be, so hang in there.
Now that all the thanks are out of the way, let me break down the event as it went down.
Long time coming, THE SOUND OF ART celebrity art auction finally went down this past week at the Puck building in Manhattan. It was a great time, and I got to meet a lot of old school graf heads like C E S , and Seen (whom I talked to about the time he tagged the Hollywood Sign. . .this man is a legend). I also got to meet some other great industry folk, like the hip hop freestyle demigod SUPERNATURAL (if you liked the freestyling in 8 mile, you got to see this guy). Some celebs were there, actors, musicians etc . . .you know the drill.
All in all the live auction portion of the auction wasn't all it was cracked up to be. The work there was fantastic, the food was good, the atmosphere before the bidding was great, but the crowd was definitely not an art buying crowd. It was supposed to be full of Gallery Owners and Music Industry Art Collectors. It turned out to be an audience of mostly hang out people, which is cool for a party, but at $100 a head, you think someone would have wanted to buy some art.
Either way, my piece sold and raised a lot of money for AIDS awareness in the youth, and that's what it's all about. It sold for more then Marilyn Manson's piece as well as a painting by Brandon Boyd from Incubus, so I can't be too broken up about it.
Shout to Miss Mar, and Knowledge Born from Elevation Suite Music Group for coming to the event to show me love. What's with this weather?
Thanks also to Mike Tyson's sister Jacqueline Rowe from Iron Mic Enterprises for the attempted hook-up with Eve. It was so last minute
The weekend after the art auction I went to the YRB (yellow rat bastard) spring fashion show at the China Club this weekend. I went, and it was dope. Props to David Ishay for a great new line of gear, complimentary drinks, and the VIP treatment for yours truly.
I'd also like to thank Keith from Gawsie Athletics for hooking me up with some great fashion wear for the event. Gawsie Athletics really makes some stylish comfy shit, props Keith.
Just another day in the life of an Art Juggernaut.
-Cojo