The worlds of science and art came together Wednesday in an effort to battle cancer at the first ever Art for Life auction held at Memorial Union.
Organized by UW-Milwaukee graduate Kelly Andrew, the event showcased 79 pieces from 60 artists with proceeds benefiting the University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center and Gilda's Club of Southeastern Wisconsin. Andrew founded the organization after the June 2003 death of her grandmother from pancreatic cancer.
\I was an art student and my grandma supported that,"" Andrew said. ""You get angry [because] cancer happens, and this was just something I could do.""
Over 200 guests attended the event, which featured art from a range of media including jewelry, watercolor and quilt.
Class of 1935 UW-Madison alumna Lois Buell, an attendee at the event, was pleased to see that some works featured at the event were created by students she had taught.
""It's wonderful, very worthwhile,"" Buell said, speaking of the purpose for which the art was being used. ""It's a great reward.""
Susan Hunt-Wulkowicz, a contributing artist whose mother suffered from breast cancer, said the organization of the event immediately attracted her attention and made it easy for her to donate one of her works.
""I don't think anyone understands what it's like for an artist to give their artwork,"" she said. ""There's no tax deduction. You choose your charities carefully.""
Andrew, originally from the Evansville area, said it was important that the focus of the auction was local. After she conceived of the idea for the auction, her mother, father and numerous residents from her hometown area were quick to join her efforts. The majority of the artists recruited to donate to the event, including Hunt-Wulkowicz, were also from Southern Wisconsin.
However, Andrew's mother, Barbara Andrew, a member of the Art for Life Board of Directors, said the event took on another purpose for the family besides just helping others.
""[The auction] was for us a way to help get through the grieving process,"" she said. ""It was something positive we could think about instead of just grieving about my mom.""
According to Kelly Andrew, the Andrew family and fellow Art for Life Board of Directors members chose the UW Comprehensive Cancer Center due to its ""great research.""
