Thursday, March 7, 2013

Second Anniversary Fundraiser ----Dice Tsutsumi's close sale


As the second anniversary of Tsunami tragedy approaches, Pixar art director Dice Tsutsumi is doing once again Artists Help Japan auction to bring some awareness of the tragedy.


In the past two years, Artists Help Japan raised over $250,000 and donated to our trusted partners Mercy Corps and Give2Asia.

This time, it is very small with only Dice's personal possessions.  This won't raise too much but hopefully it will raise a bit of awareness and show that we have not forgotten.

After the overwhelming international support in the first year, the help and support in the affected areas is losing its steam.  
Many of the affected areas are in danger of turning into ghost towns with the financial support running out soon.  
The government and corporations are now pushing through re-opening many of the nuclear power plants as the world memory of the horror experience with its nuclear disaster is slowly fading away.
Most sadly, the recent survey shows that Japanese people have less room to even think about the affected areas only after a few years from the disaster.  Not to mention some of us outside of Japan may be thinking even less.

All the proceeds will be donated to Mercy Corps.  They have done some really good job in partnership with a few of the best NPOs in Japan. 
But again, more than the money, your support is going to help us show people in Japan that we have not forgotten.

If you have friends who may be interested, please spread the word out.















Thursday, April 12, 2012

1 year Anniversary Auction Closed

$21,909.74!


THANK YOU EVERYONE for your generous support. Artists who donated their artwork, people who contributed their money (and were lucky enough to get their hands on the beautiful art!), and everyone else who helped us spread the word.

We are touched by all your hearts and are impressed with the tremendous result. It was well beyond our initial
goal. I am sure the thoughts out of our collective efforts will reach the hearts of the victims more than the fund itself.

But most importantly, let us all not forget about ongoing issues they face in Japan. Let us keep our eye on the recovery effort of our partners in the affected areas as well as on the nuclear disaster situation that has yet to be settled down as of today.
 
Sincerely grateful,          Artists Help Japan Team

Thursday, April 5, 2012

LAST DAY FOR JAPAN AUCTION!

It is your last chance to participate this auction!

Want to get rare original art by Pixar artists or Pixar collectibles?

AND

Help Japan?


AHJ auction closes at 6 pm pacific time today.

http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=artists_help_japan
















Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Photographer Arito Suzuki Talks About Ishinomaki, Japan

Artists Help Japan interviewed talented Japanese photographer Arito Suzuki about what he had witnessed through the lens in Ishinomaki.  Ishinomaki is one of the most seriously affected by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.  The total number of death/missing is at over 3800 as of Feb 2012 and over 29,000 residents lost their homes.

Arito made numerous trips to Ishinomaki to help as a relief worker in the past year and as a prominent young photographer in Japan, captured the "real" people.

Besides the reports on the relief effort by our partners, we thought it'd be great to get a feel of what it is people are dealing with in Japan in their everyday lives.  Arito's photographs as well as his stories as a relief volunteer worker are worth your busy schedule to stop, see and read.



PART 1 : talking about my experiences in Ishinomaki
I first went to Ishinomaki on April 1st, just 20 days after the Earthquake and Tsunami had completely destroyed the city. From there, I spent the next three weeks working as a disaster relief volunteer with an organization which my friend had established. We concentrated our efforts to Ishinomaki and its greater region, which includes the Oshika Peninsula and many small islands. Since that first experience, I have returned to Ishinomaki many times, especially more so throughout the first 6 months when the situation required as many hands as possible. Our organization did almost everything, from shoveling mud out of houses, factories, schools, etc., to giving massages to the survivors living in the shelters. I was put in charge of organizing cookout stations in two temporary shelters, serving warm soup and other side dishes for a total of 1200 people per day.
There was no special reason behind my choice of going to Ishinomaki, except for the fact that one of my friends had already set up a base there. His “real” job is as a professional canoeist, owning his own small outfitter and taking people on river trips down the Shimanto River in Shikoku. But, he and a small group of his friends have been active volunteers in almost every natural, or human inflicted disaster, since the Kobe Earthquake in ‘95.
PART 2 : talking about my photographs
By default, I had my camera with me since day one, but after witnessing the destruction with my own eyes, and being an outsider who suffered no loss from the Tsunami, I was not able to point my camera at such a scene of demolition. It was not until I became acquainted with the people living in the shelters where we cooked, that I started taking photographs. First it was the children that visited us daily with curious eyes. They were living in cardboard cubicles with their entire family, and since the city was still in complete turmoil, the schools had not restarted yet. To them, we were like camp leaders, big boys and girls who were the prefect candidate to play and hang out with, since their parents were in no shape to do so. They quickly remembered my name, and I learned theirs, and through them, I was able to develop a relationship with the people of the shelter. And my time with them, is what eventually became the body of my photographs from Ishinomaki.
There is no deep, hidden message behind my photographs, except to show something else than all the negative, destructive images flooding the media. The Ishinomaki that I saw was not just destroyed houses, and crushed cars piled on top each other. It was a scene of human strength and brotherhood, people putting aside their selfish motives and working together to help one another. These were just ordinary people who amazed me with their strength and humility in the face of immeasurable loss and tragedy. Through my photographs, I wish to communicate hope, that one day Ishinomaki and the people of Tohoku will stand proud of how they faced and overcame, one of the biggest disasters of the century.
PART 3 : talking about what we need now
I can nott really speak for the entire city, but what Ishinomaki, and Tohoku needs right now, is first and foremost; employment. Many of the local businesses were destroyed by the Tsunami, and do not have the man power and/or the funding to restart. Thus, there has been a huge collapse of local economy throughout Tohoku. The next item on the list would be to build communities within the temporary houses, in order to support elderly people living alone. We have data from Kobe that starting around 2-3 years after the tragedy there was an increase in suicide cases by single elderly residents in temporary houses. Before the Tsunami, these people lived in small, tightly knit communities where everyone knew their neighbors, and took care of each other. Now with the temporary houses, there communities have been completely dismantled and a retired single person, is more or less, put in isolation not knowing who his new neighbors are.
As my message to those living abroad, what we need right now is not the same as it was a year ago. Money and supplies are not at the top of the list for things we wish to receive. Please, come and visit Japan, and travel through Tohoku. Stay at a local hotel, eat at a local restaurant, and buy souvenirs from a local store. If that is not possible, go on the web, and try to purchase goods produced from the Tohoku area. What we need is help in rejuvenating the economy of Tohoku, and that is something that can be supported even from the other side of the planet. But, probably my strongest plead, and here I speak for all the survivors, is to ask everyone not to forget. Not to forget about what happened on March 11th, 2011, not to forget about everything that we lost that day, and not to forget about those who survived and are living in grief and darkness, unsure of their future.
Thank you,

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Merct Corps' Silva Ross Reports with Images

Mercy Corps' Silvia Ross's photo essay reports current state of the affected areas a year after tsunami/earthquake disaster struck Japan.  Mercy Corps, Artists Help Japan's NPO partner has made effective recovery efforts in the past 12 months working closely with local NPO Piece Winds Japan.  While the overwhelming challenges lie ahead of people in Japan, this photo essay is a glimpse of Mercy Corps' efforts that all of you supported through Artists Help Japan movement.




Saturday, March 10, 2012

AHJ 1 Yr Auction first group LIVE now!

15 of over 60 items up for grab!  

Help us spread the word, enjoy bidding on these items, and let's show our affection for japan!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

AHJ 1 Year Anniversary Auction!


Can you believe it's been a year already?   The devastating disaster the world witnessed on March 11th last year must be still vivid in all our memories.   With such diligence and patience, Japan has undoubtedly made a great recovery since then.  The world sent a flood of generous support to Japan and it seemed as though it was a matter of time for them to see the light in the tunnel.

The recovery effort however is far from over.

Death toll hiked up over 22,000 and more than 300,000 people were displaced from their home.   And as we all may be experiencing ourselves, the world's attention has shifted else where.    While some organizations aren't accepting any more funds for Japan, both our partners Give2Asia and Mercy Corps are continuing their ongoing work ahead.  Take a look at their respective reports on their efforts as well as their upcoming plans.
Mercy Corps
Give2Asia

In the next 4 weeks, Using the power of art, Artists Help Japan will be auctioning more art to raise money as well as providing current news and stories from Japan.
This 1-Year-Anniversary auction is an exciting opportunity to buy rare memorabilia and original artwork from industry top talents like Pixar's Ronnie del Carmen, Tia Kratter, and Oscar nominated Enrico Casarosa.

There are over 60 items auctioned using eBay Givingworks.  And it is divided into 4 groups of 15 or so items each.  Each group has about a week of bidding time.
We will not announce what will be auctioned in the following group until they come live on the page.  There will be lots of fun surprises everyone!
 
You can bid from anywhere in the world but the shipping is only possible within the U.S. (sorry we are short handed!!)

Be sure to check this page out this Saturday, 3/10 6 pm pacific time.

All proceeds benefit MercyCorps' diligent efforts in Japan. 



 
Many many collectors items including out of print Totoro Foret Project book

 Some of the RARE signatures and drawings from Pixar directors and artists

Although this is a much smaller event, a few artists still contributed their original art


Let's not forget about the achievement we made last year.   It is such an encouraging figure that there IS a place for artists to contribute.          Hopefully we can continue doing this!

Artists Help Japan Fund with Give2Asia      =   
$94,473
Artists Help Japan Fund with Mercy Corps  =    $49,352

Artists Help Japan Fund U.S. Total =$143,825

Artists Help Japan Paris$42,609 (30k euro)
Artists Help Japan Toronto = $20,000
Artists Help Japan London = $12,268(about 7800 British pound) ---->Civic Force Japan
Artists Help Japan Sweden = $16,552(112,476 Swedish Crowns) --->Civic Force Japan
So far worldwide,  Artists Help Japan movement raised $235,254!!!!!!!


Hope this is a fun challenge for you to be willing to support!