(January 19, 2010) For the second year in a row, Jonah Ward was one of a handful of selected artists invited to this month’s Art of Elysium's 3rd Annual Black Tie Charity Gala HEAVEN in Los Angeles. Shepard Fairey (creator of the HOPE portrait for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and street art movement, OBEY GIANT) was this year’s visionary artist and created the visual and conceptual aspects of the themed gala.
Ward, along with 64 other artists, donated a piece of artwork to the The Art of Elysium foundation. The donated artwork will be auctioned off during the “Pieces of Heaven” auction on March 4th by famous auctioneer and Christie's President, Andrea Fiuczynski in Los Angeles. All proceeds will go to The Art of Elysium, a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization founded in 1997 which encourages actors, artists and musicians to voluntarily dedicate their time and talent to children who are battling serious medical conditions.
Ward donated a glass burned padauk diptych from his burnt panel series. The piece was photographed and added to the exquisite HEAVEN coffee table book designed by Studio Number One, which was gifted to all guests of the gala. Other artists featured in the book, to name a few, are Henry Diltz, Elijah Wood, Herb Ritts, and Shepard Fairey.
Other famous guests at the gala included Adam Lambert, Ali Larter, Amber Heard, Anna Paquin, Ashley Olsen, Camilla Belle, Cash Warren, Channing Tatum, Dita Von Teese, Ed Westwick, Elijah Wood, Emilie de Ravin, Jessica Alba, Jessica Szohr, Juliette Lewis, Justin Bartha, Kate Bosworth, Katy Perry, Kirsten Dunst, Lindsay Lohan, Marisa Tomei, Nicole Richie, Rumer Willis, Russell Brand, Shannen Doherty and Sophia Bush.
Ward was definitely dressed for the occasion. Former graduate of California College of the Arts, Lindsey Whittaker (2007, ceramics), designed a custom shirt that he proudly wore with his tuxedo. Ward has also been invited to attend the live auction in West Hollywood on March 4th. It has been reported that the auction will draw about 250 attendees and feature a silent and live auction.
“It’s going to be interesting to see how much my piece sells for,” said Ward. "Whatever happens though, it's nice to know that the proceeds of my artwork, and my passion as an artist, will go on to perhaps inspire the same passion in these kids."
About The Art of Elysium
The Art of Elysium is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization founded in 1997 which encourages actors, artists and musicians to voluntarily dedicate their time and talent to children who are battling serious medical conditions. They provide artistic workshops in the following disciplines: acting, art, comedy, fashion, music, radio, songwriting and creative writing. They work with numerous hospitals and hospices throughout Los Angeles.