Life Support Japan

Got a little behind this week, as I am participating in Life Support Japan - an online print sale benefit. After the tragedy in Japan, the photo community quickly got together and each photographer involved has donated a photograph in an edition of 10, with each print selling for $50. Over $10,000 has been raised already and many editions have sold out. More photographers are signing up daily. The photo I chose to donate is White Cat 011b, from my series LUCKY CATS: To Bring In The Money. As of this post, only 5 are left. With their fists in the air, Lucky Cats have been some of the current "rock stars" I've been photographing lately. They represent good fortune, and don't we all need a little of that?

White Cat 011b

From Crista Dix of wall space gallery:

Natural disasters happen all the time, like landslides, floods, earthquakes. We live on a planet that isn't static. Friday, March 11th, we witnessed a natural disaster with a very human toll. The earthquake in Japan was of such magnitude that even the most prepared nation in the world to handle a disaster of this type was overwhelmed. It wasn't the earthquake alone, which was devastating enough but watching a 30 foot high wall of mud and debris wipe entire communities away was beyond any ability I personally had to comprehend. 

I had to do something. Aline Smithson, one of our gallery artists wanted to do something too. Ryan Nabulsi and Jennifer Schwartz joined the effort. Soon I was hearing from every part of our creative community that we wanted to reach out to help the people of Japan. Life Support Japan was created to bring assistance to those in Japan who need it. 

We have selected two charities to benefit from the sales of these limited edition prints. 

Direct Relief International, http://www.directrelief.org/ for help with medical supplies.

Direct Relief works closely with the United Nations (U.N.) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA), which has activated to assemble the international response. Direct Relief has mobilized and staged materials at our headquarters, which are standing by ready for airlift to Japan.

Habitat for Humanity Japan, http://www.habitat.orgto/ help in the rebuilding of communities in and around Sendai and northern Japan.

Artists from around the globe have donated limited editions, over 300 to date, and we will be consistently updating the images available.

Galleries from around the US are banding together for a series of benefits, for these two and other charities to benefit relief efforts in Japan. We will be posting information as it becomes available. 

Thank you for your support and for being part of a global community.