Waterkeeper Alliance held its Art for Water benefit at Sotheby’s in New York on February 6, 2017 . Hundreds of guests and collectors gathered together in support of clean water. An art auction of works by well-known artists including Art for Water Co-Chairs Jeff Koons and Ed Ruscha as well as Diane Arbus, Urs Fischer, Walton Ford, Mark Grotjahn, Jonas Wood, Dustin Yellin, etc.. raised almost $700,000 to support the organization's endeavors and goal to defend and protect nearly 2.5 million miles of waterways on six continents globally. Clean water globally is at risk from contamination for our drinking, fishing and swimming.
Artists emphazied the necessity of raising funds and increasing awareness for Waterkeeper Alliance and their fight for clean water worldwide. Co-Chair Jeff Koons gave special insight into the reason behind his donation of Girl with Dolphin and Monkey opening the live auction. In his artwork, Gretchen Mol is illustrated as Aphrodite on a dolphin with her son Eros. "It's about the eternal continuation of life energy. If we just let nature perform, if we don't contaminate it, then it will remain our life force. We need clean water – it's our connection to the eternal."
Some of the notable guests were Ron Delsener, Cheryl Hines, John McEnroe, Nicole Miller, Alysia Reiner and Kerry Kennedy along with featured artists Chloe Wise, Claire Sherman, Basmat Levin, Alexis Rockman and Peter Drake.
Artists emphazied the necessity of raising funds and increasing awareness for Waterkeeper Alliance and their fight for clean water worldwide, Co-Chair Jeff Koons gave special insight into the reason behind his donation of Girl with Dolphin and Monkey opening the live auction.
President Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. of Waterkeeper Alliance gave a speech on the historical connection of artists with nature and "artists' critical role as an insurgency." He also put a specially emphasis on the need for additional funding for Waterkeeper Alliance's endeavors. Included in his speech was, "Clean water should transcend politics. But as decades-long battles for clean water regulations are being dismantled, Waterkeeper Alliance is more important than ever." It was so great to see so many dedicated and joined in force in the same cause to defend our eco system.
More photos at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xq4p3zfa00pz7wh/AACqJ6AMtEGLogLLr5yoWN70a?dl=0
Editor in chief; Christine Lee Contibuting writer: Mitchell Acks
Photo credit: Samantha Nandez/BFA.com