By: Casey L Rocheteau/TRT Reporter
Last month, the 15th-annual Art Beat for AIDS Care Ocean State (ACOS) was a triumphant success. Hosted in the posh Biltmore Hotel in downtown Providence, the art auction raised thousands of dollars for individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS. Several local artists donated their work, which ranged from political collages, like Rafaello La Mantia’s “I Hate Wars,” to erotic works like “The Kiss #2” by Jason Preston. There were also gift certificates, candles, jewelry and sculpture to be bid on in the silent auction.
Kalene Brennan, development manager of ACOS, described the event as “a great way to bring communities together. It’s not often that our supporters and artists get together in the same space.” She has been working for the organization for three years, and noted that it was a tribute to the work being done, as well as the event itself, that the fundraiser has been happening for 15 years, with many artists donating work year after year.
The crowd itself was a hodgepodge of people who had been contributing for years as well as newcomers. State senator Sheldon Whitehouse was also in attendance for the cause, as were several prominent figures in the Rhode Island community. Carol Lincoln, who works in customer service, was attending the event for her first year, and found that it brought “the opportunity to participate in a good cause” and bid on a custom-made silver necklace. She came to know about the event through her friend, Ms. Kitty Litter, who was buzzing about the room in an elegant black evening gown before co-hosting the live auction with Kim Zandy, a DJ from Rhode Island’s 92 PRO-FM.
Two of the artists who had pieces in the live auction spoke with The Rainbow Times. Mark Freedman, who has contributed pieces to Art Beat for many years, said, “This is one of the worthiest causes out there.”
He went on to say that, over the years, having close relatives and friends become victims of HIV/AIDS compelled him to keep contributing his work to the organization. Robert Rustermierr, another contributing artist, added, “I believe in this organization, and I make art, so if I can contribute a piece of what I do to this, cool.”
One of the most sobering moments of the night came amidst the hustle and bustle of the live auction. While bidders feverishly raised their paddles in the air, TRT sat down with Dr. Lynn Taylor, a physician working with AIDSCOS.
“This is still very much an epidemic,” she said of HIV/AIDS, “and this is the only organization left in the state explicitly doing work around it. It’s as if it’s vanished from people’s radars, but it’s all I think about all day.” About the organization, she said “I’ve never seen another organization where the money goes directly toward helping people. The people running things aren’t paid much and are some of the hardest working folks I’ve ever met.”
While the evening was filled with merriment and friendly banter, it was Dr. Taylor who put it all into perspective. Without organizations and events like this carrying the torch, she emphasized, people might not receive the care they so desperately need.
