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I’ve done a variety of work for The Parkinson Alliance since early 2001.  In fact, it was the catalyst to GloDerWorks being born, although that’s another story.  Back in March I was asked to create the artwork for a fundraising campaign in recognition of April being national Parkinson’s month.  The campaign was held at a small chain of high-end local supermarkets, McCaffrey’s.

This is the poster I came up with, which was created in a couple different sizes, with this size being on the front door of the supermarket.   On the poster are the two circles representing a $1 or $5 donation that shoppers could make to the Alliance.

The smaller posters were at each check out area with stacks of circles.  When someone donated, their name was added to the circle and the circle displayed at the store.  I finally got over to McCaffery’s to see what it looked like, and I was extremely suprised at how cool everything looked and how popular it was.

The circles was hanging all around the store.  At the customer service area, where flowers were sold …

They went around the meat counter …

Around the frozen foods, the front windows, the deli area.

They even hung from the lights in the store.  It was fantastic!  While the successful campaign has now concluded from the store, The Parkinson Alliance always takes donations.  The unique thing about the organization is the 100% of donations from individuals are match by The Tuchman Foundation.  This means that 100% of your donation goes directly to Parkinson’s research. Not many organizations can make this claim.   Additionally, they are the umbrella organization for several other Parkinson’s organizations.   If you’re looking for an incredibly dedicated non-profit to donate to, please check out The Parkinson Alliance.

Next post … back to artwork and quilt-related news.

Last Saturday marked the 16th annual Parkinson’s Unity Walk held in NYC’s Central Park.  Organized by Kingston, NJ’s The Parkinson Alliance, it is the largest single-day grassroots awareness and fund raising event for the Parkinson’s disease community.  It’s been my pleasure to be involved with the Walk since early 2001.

The  program began at the Bandshell.This year’s speakers included Carol Walton, (Executive Director of PUW), Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (representing NY 14th district), Martin Tuckman (CEO), May May Ali (daughter of famed boxer), and Davis Phinney (a former professional road bicycle racer and Olympic medalist who founded the David Phinney Foundation), and speakers from Solvay Pharmaceuticals, the premier Sponsor.  The event was MC’d once again by the beautiful Michelle Charlesworth (she looks like a beauty queen), TV news reporter and anchorwoman at ABC’s Eyewitness News.  While the program was uplifting, it was also sad in that this past year the Walk’s founder, Margot Zobel, passed away.

Me with Michelle

Carol Walton

The Honorable Carolyn Maloney, Martin Tuchman, and Davis Phinney

Davis leading the crowd

My sister took this picture showing me at work backstage as the speakers gather.

The “Find a Cure Blvd” was filled with a variety of booths with representatives from sponsors, seven major Parkinson’s organizations, a kid’s area, area for team pictures (taken by my business partner, Derry), refreshment, and more.  Many sponsors generously give away a variety of informative literature and goodies such as bags, t-shirts, pens, treats, and one sponsor even gave away yoga mats!

After the program concluded, the gentle 2-mile circular Walk began.  The weather was absolutely perfect, and there were thousands of walkers.

My sister, one of the volunteer photographers, took the picture of me below.

My 8th year as official photographer of the Walk

The evening prior to the Walk, Derry and I also photographed the “kick-off” party held at the Boat House in Central Park.

A gorgeous venue

What a great way to kick off the Walk!

The event is incredibly inspiring.  Important is that 100% of all of the donations raised by walkers and contributors continues to be designated for Parkinson’s research.  For more information, visit the Parkinson’s Unity Walk.

This past Wednesday I was in NYC photographing he annual kick-off party for the Parkinson’s Unity Walk (I’m proud that we also designed their website).   This was the third year it was held at the Gabarron Foundation Carriage House Center for the Arts located at 149 East 38th Street.  The Foundation specifically serves the Spanish and American communities and specializes in exhibitions and various cultural activities. It also serves as a meeting place for people and organizations.

The exhibition currently showing is “I Have a Dream — International Tribute Exhibition to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”  The above work is “Dr. Martin Luther King — Love Revolution, 2008″ by Lee Pei.  It is oil on canvas, 43.3″ x 43.3”.

“The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be … The nation and world are in dire need of creative extremists.”

— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

The exhibit runs through March 8, 2009, and it features the provocative work of over 70 artists.  I was very fortunate to get a 141 page color catalog of the show which also includes poems and  commentary by several individuals such as Maya Angelou and Cora Weiss.  If you go to the Foundation’s website, you can download a PDF of the catalog in black/white. While my photos are primarily of the event, I did have permission to also photograph throughout the Carriage House.  The following is a taste of the venue.

I love the interior space of this three-story structure,  with its spiral staircase and the open floor plan.  It is a fabulous venue for showing off art.  Under the stair case is a large sculpture made of painted wood called “El Suneno de Jonas, 2008” by Francisco Leiro.

Up the staircase to the second floor of the luscious interior (oh, how I’d love this to be my home!).

The work on the far left is “I Had a Dream Somewhere in the Cosmos, 2008″ by Josep Puihmari.  It’s oil on canvas, 76.8″ x 51.2”.  The work to the right of it is the bottom portion of  “Doble Rostro, 2008″ by Anton Patino.  It’s mixed media, 39.4″ x 78.7”.  To its right, is the bottom portion of “Lorraine, 2008” (you can see the “I am a Man” area) by Javier Balda.  It’s mixed media on canvas , 70.1″ x 51.2″.

To the far left is a portion of “Flowers for MLK, 2008″ by Ciria.  It is oil on canvas and measures 78.7″ x 78.7”.  Otherwise, the art is as noted in the above image.  On the far high wall is “Angel No. 13″ by Cui Xiuwen (no year noted).  It is a print, 43.3″ x 50.8”.

If you look straight down under the “Flowers for MLK” print, you’ll see the opening to the far room which is a state-of-the-art looking kitchen (as least in comparison to my home kitchen).  I didn’t photograph it because the catering company was hard at work preparing the evening’s delicious food, but I had to take a photo of the glasses.

The piece on the left is called “Soul Brother 1, 2007″ by Willie Cole and is made entirely of shoes (nice ones, I must add).  To the right is “Si, M.L.K., 200″ by Arranz Bravo.  It is oil on canvas, 47.2″ x 47.2”.

Up on the third floor in the corner was this provocative piece “I Had A Dream, 2008″ by Charlie Sartwelle.  It is a mixed media collage, 15.7″ x 24”.

Back on the ground floor level.

Even the glasses waiting to be filled looked good.

The main floor area with guests enjoying the reception.

Carol Walton, the CEO of The Parkinson Alliance, the parent organization that runs the Unity Walk.  Carol is incredibly focused and driven, and I cannot even begin to describe what an asset she is to everything she gets involved with.

As an aside, I’ve been doing work for the Alliance since early 2001, and I highly recommend this organization to donate to.  Yes, times are difficult, but this organization matches every dollar you send — meaning you get your money’s worth — and they are committed to funding the research to find a cure.  Click here to learn more.

“Let Freedom Ring 2008″ by Blanca Benitez.  It is collage on wood, 35.4″ x 39.4”.

It was not difficult photographing people in front of the art, especially since most wasn’t covered with glass.

Throughout the evening, this beautiful woman played harp.  The piece to the right is called “Seeds of Peace” by Sharon Kopriva.  It is mixed media,  37″ x 29.9″

It’s difficult seeing the piece to the left.  It’s called “Dream (Homenatge A MLK), 2008″ by Enric Ansesa.  It is acrylic and oil on canvas, 39.4″ x 39.4”

Please note that the works of art are all copyrighted by their respective makers.  Again, the photos here are just a little taste and they in no way reflect the beauty of seeing the works in person.  If you’re in NYC, contact the Foundation for information on how you can view the show.  For more information on any of the artists or their work, contact the Foundation.  And, again, click here for more information on the Parkinson’s Unity Walk and click here for more information on The Parkinson Alliance.

You can also see pictures that I took last year at this event by clicking on the February 2008 link to the right and scrolling down the page.

The 14th annual Parkinson’s Unity Walk, the largest grassroots fundraiser for Parkinson’s research in the country, was held in NYC’s Central Park on Saturday. It’s a one day per year event (with work behind the scenes all year) that has grown from a couple hundred walkers in 1994 to today’s several thousands of walkers. The dollars raised for research has also grown over the years, with this year’s total being 1.3 million thus far! While the number is certainly impressive, the push is always for more donations for research until the disease is cured.

I’ve been honored to be associated with the PUW, doing its print work and photography for several years. Plus, Derry (my business partner) and I have also designed and built their website. This year is the seventh that we photographed the Walk, with Derry taking all of the official team photos and me taking everything else. It’s work we thoroughly enjoy and look forward to.

For more information on the Walk, including how you can get involved to participate in future walks, or to make a donation, please visit unitywalk.org.

Here are some photos from the event:

Some of the thousands who came out to walk.

The gorgeous Michelle Charlesworth, ABC News anchorwoman, was the emcee extraordinaire.

Martin Tuchman, Chairman of the PUW, holding the Proclamation from Mayer Bloomberg, and Janet Reno, the first female Attorney General of the U.S, both speakers at the event.

The beautiful MayMay Ali inspired the crowd with her uplifting poem written specifically for this event, something participants have enjoyed for the past couple years. MayMay is also extremely active in Team Parkinson, another PD organization that operates of out LA. We also did TP’s website, and you can learn more about that organization here.

Even dogs were walking!

Before and after the Walk, everyone is invited to stroll “Find a Cure” boulevard where plenty of educational materials is freely available (plus all kinds of other stuff, like water bottles, backpacks, food, and so on).

Again, visit the Unity Walk website and consider getting involved.

Prior to the Parkinson’s annual Unity Walk, held in NYC’s Central Park each year, there is a kick-off party to mark the event. I’ve been fortunate to photograph the event for several years. For the second year, the event was held at the Gabarron Foundation Carriage House Center for the Arts located at 149 East 38th Street in NYC. The Foundation specifically serves the Spanish and American communities and specializes in exhibitions and various cultural activities. It also serves as a meeting place for people and organizations.

The Foundation is housed in an incredible building providing a beautiful space for exhibits.

The fantastic spiral staircase captures my attention each time I see it. One of my journal quilts is based on a photograph that I’ve taken here.

The current exhibit is by Paco Caparros called “Photographic Hierographics.”

Part of the gathering for the party listening to part of the presentation regarding the Unity Walk.

Anyone for food?