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[STK]
[IN] ART DEN
[SU] NPT
TO ARTS, HEALTH, AND NATIONAL EDITORS:
Charity Auction Will Feature Work of Visionary Artist, Iron Eye RETNA,
To Benefit the Foundation Fighting Blindness and Smile Design Gallery
NEW YORK, March 4, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Foundation
Fighting Blindness and Smile Design Gallery are teaming up on a March
6 celebration at Manhattan's Provocateur, featuring an art auction of
unique pieces from well-known contemporary artist, Iron Eye RETNA.
Primarily recognized for his graffiti creations, RETNA will be lending
his artistic talents to paint a wall at Achievement First Brooklyn
High School on March 5. He'll also be collaborating with students from
this public charter school to create three one-of-a-kind canvas pieces
for the March 6 charity art auction.
A portion of the art auction proceeds will benefit the Foundation
Fighting Blindness, an organization advancing sight-saving research
for retinal diseases, and the Smile Design Gallery, an organization
providing free dental care to people in need. A limited number of
tickets are available for purchase online for $75 apiece, which
includes entry and champagne.
"We're honored to partner with RETNA, a true artistic genius, as we
work to raise critical funds and awareness for blindness research,"
says Bradford Manning, a Foundation Fighting Blindness national
trustee and co-founder of Macoma Capital Group, who launched the
company's private investment fund in 2010. "Not only is RETNA's
artistic name fitting alongside the Foundation's mission to treat and
cure retinal diseases, but his willingness to support the cause is
admirable."
Born and raised in Los Angeles, RETNA started his career in the early
1990s, developing a style derived from Blackletter, Egyptian
Hieroglyphics, Arabic and Hebrew calligraphy, as well as more
traditional types of street-based graffiti. In addition to exhibiting
at institutions and galleries in Los Angeles, Miami, London, New York
and Hong Kong, RETNA has also done work for global brands such as
Nike, Louis Vuitton and VistaJet.
WHAT: Charity Art Auction, featuring the work of Iron Eye RETNA to
benefit the Foundation Fighting Blindness and Smile Design Gallery
WHERE: Provocateur, 18 9th Avenue, New York, New York
WHEN: March 6, 2014, 7-9 p.m. (auction begins at 8 p.m.)
TICKETS: $75 each, available for purchase online
About Foundation Fighting Blindness The Foundation Fighting Blindness
is a national non-profit organization driving the research that will
lead to preventions, treatments and cures for retinitis pigmentosa,
macular degeneration, Usher syndrome and the entire spectrum of
retinal degenerative diseases that affect more than 10 million
Americans. Since 1971, the Foundation has raised nearly $550 million
as the leading non-governmental funder of inherited retinal research.
Breakthrough Foundation-funded studies using gene therapy have
restored significant vision in children and young adults who were
previously blind, paving the way for additional clinical trials to
treat a variety of retinal degenerative diseases. With a coveted
four-star rating from Charity Navigator, the Foundation also has
nearly 50 chapters that provide support, information and resources to
affected individuals and their families in communities across the
country.
About Smile Design Gallery Smile Design Gallery is a social enterprise
that provides free dental care to people in need by employing the
sales of art to administer free dentistry for children and communities
throughout the Tri-State area. With a wealth of celebrity support from
the likes of Swizz Beatz, Angela Simmons and more, Smile Design
Gallery has provided free dentistry for over 500 uninsured people
since its inception in the spring of 2013.
Contact: ALLIE GEBHARDT AGEBHARDT@FIGHTBLINDNESS.ORG 410-423-0643
SOURCE Foundation Fighting Blindness
-0- 03/04/2014
/Web Site: http://www.FightBlindness.org
CO: Foundation Fighting Blindness
ST: New York
IN: ART DEN
SU: NPT
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