Running June 19-22, auction adds original artwork from numerous noteworthy artists; all proceeds to benefit Equal Justice Initiative.
Leaders of the newly launched Bay Area Animation Alliance have just announced they’ve expanded their fundraising initiative, Art Auction for Racial Justice, to include original artwork from a brand new set of artists. The first portion of the auction, held last weekend, focused on work from artists at the three founding BAAA studios: Baobab Studios, KuKu Studios, and Tonko House. Due to an overwhelming number of requests to participate, the auction was expanded to include the new original pieces and will be open for bidding at 10:00 am PST Friday, June 19, running through Monday, June 22.
Visit https://www.baanimationalliance.org/events for more information and to bid on the artwork.
All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI); EJI’s mission is to end mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the U.S., to challenge racial and economic injustice, and to protect basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.
Some of the noteworthy artists whose work is being auctioned include:
- Eric Darnell (Director of all 4 Madagascar films and Antz)
- Mark Andrews (Oscar-winning Director of Brave)
- Peter Sohn (Director of The Good Dinosaur)
- Angus Maclane (Co-director of Finding Dory, Director of Toy Story of Terror)
- Trevor Jiminez (Director of Oscar-nominated short Weekends)
- Dave Mullins (Director of Oscar-nominated short L.O.U)
- Alexandra Boiger (illustrator for Chelsea Clinton’s NY Times children’s book bestseller, “She Persisted!”)
According to Darnell, the six-time Emmy Award-winning Baobab Studios co-founder, “We've been so inspired by the Bay Area animation community's reaction to our first BAAA art auction. We never imagined that so many artists would ask to participate and create personal original works of art inspired by this movement. This is our small way of fighting hate with what we do best - by creating art.”
Andrews noted, “The bully wins if we are silent. Hate wins if we are silent. Inequality wins if we are silent. Enough! We must find our voice and speak up when we see injustice. This auction is a way to have a voice! The Racial Justice Art Auction is the perfect megaphone to speak up against systematic racial injustice in our country. the Bay Area Animation Alliance has rallied the finest artists working in animation today to lend their talent as one collective voice. Share in that chorus! Buy art! All proceeds go to this important cause.”
“There are nearly 3000 children in the United States who have been tried as adults and are currently serving life sentences in adult prisons without parole,” Mullins added. “70% of these children are people of color and are often underrepresented legally. 3000 children. That number is staggering. The Racial Justice Art Auction is donating their proceeds to the Equal Justice Initiative which helps these kids and works to reform the laws surrounding this issue. Though this is only part of the work the EJI does, I feel it’s important to highlight it. Please join the auction, overbid on our art(!) and help this very important cause.”
Announced earlier this month, three San Francisco Bay Area creative powerhouses - Baobab Studios, KuKu Studios, and Tonko House - joined forces to form BAAA, a community for animation professionals designed to inspire local creativity while raising the bar for independent animation worldwide. BAAA will hold regular events that focus on education, craftsmanship, and community.
Source: Bay Area Animation Alliance
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
