10,000 Journeys: Benefit Art Gallery in San Jose, CA

[jcwu]

Howdy, folks! I wanted to bring your attention to 10,000 Journeys, a benefit art gallery being hosted in San Jose, CA, next Saturday evening:

http://www.weehopes.org/10kj.php

My kids started WeeHopes.org in the hopes of looking for opportunities for kids to give back to the world around them. Last year, they started a project with Ethiopia Reads, an organization which works to build and fund libraries throughout Ethiopia, to give more kids there a chance to learn to read. WeeHopes.org took on the ambitious goal to fully fund a library, in the amount of $15,000. So far, we've raised a few hundred dollars from going out under the blazing hot sun and selling otter pops. I've also been donating 100% of some of my recent eBay sales to the cause (drc, the proceeds from your T100 case went to help fund the library!).

This coming weekend, we will be hosting an art gallery in San Jose, at Umpqua Bank (located at 225 West Santa Clara, Suite 150), opening on Saturday, July 19th, at 5PM. In the link above, you can preview the artwork we've received. Starting next Saturday, those preview photos will become live links that will take you to the eBay auctions for the individual pieces.

If you're in the Bay Area, come out and visit the gallery! And if you're so inclined, please take a look at the artwork, find a piece that resonates with you, and bid away! Every little bit helps! (One of the pieces of art is from yours truly, under the pen name of Jonas Winterborn...)

Thanks!

 

[jcwu]

Well, folks, it's been a hectic week, running all over the Bay Area, picking up prints and mats and cutting mats and setting up the gallery and managing the auctions and database of all the information and I can say - I am pooped!!!

The auctions go live in about half an hour (8PM pacific time), actual gallery opens tomorrow night at 5PM. There will be a food truck there at the bank, and even more importantly, Rocko's Ice Cream Tacos will be there - that stuff is SERIOUSLY delicious!

Anyways, if you're in the area, and would like to support kids trying to make a difference in the world, come by and visit us and say hi! And for everyone, local or not, check out the auctions - pick a print or two that you'd fancy as a gift for someone, and bid away! Every single penny goes to helping fund a new library in Ethiopia.

THE LINK ---> http://www.weehopes.org/10kj.php <----- THE LINK

Thanks for reading!!

 

[jcwu]

.....and the auction is live! WOOHOO!

Here's my piece, by the way. Shameless plug:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/191253483475

And my daughter's contributions:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/191252390127

http://www.ebay.com/itm/191252382579

 

[Sal]

Cool jcwu. There's some great artwork there for a good cause!

 

[jcwu]

Thanks, Sal!

Just a bump to get more eyeballs to the gallery!

THE LINK --->http://www.weehopes.org/10kj.php<----- THE LINK

We had a great opening - I absolutely loved the Rocko's Ice Cream Tacos. If you ever come by their truck - buy one! Or two! (Which is what I did...)

The art pieces are off to a good steady start - we still have 6 days left of bidding. My piece is getting quite a few more views than the others, probably because I listed it here.

Remember - Almost 98 cents of every dollar goes toward helping fund a new library in Gondar, Ethiopia. eBay is *not* taking their customary 10% fees! (Paypal is still taking their cut, but it's much less than 10%...)

It's time to look for a piece of artwork that you'd like to gift to a little one. About half the pieces were generous donations from established children's book illustrators. These pieces look good!!

And again - thanks for looking!

 

[jcwu]

Well, we've got a little over three days left for the auctions, and the bidding is starting to pick up the pace a little. As I type, there are still 18 great pieces of art with no bids, and 15 pieces that are sitting at the $15 opening bid, so plenty of chances to get good art at a great price! I *am* happy to report, though, that a few of the pieces seem to have garnered a lot of attention and are getting quite a bit of bidding action, and I'm thankful to whoever it was that engaged in some good old bidding war action there.

I am sad to say, though, that my own piece is actually going for less than half my 8-year-old daughter's piece! As a dad, I'm happy for her, but as a wannabe artist, I'm..... well, still happy for her!

I've been a fan of Sherlock Holmes since I was in elementary school - for our fifth grade dress-up-as-your-favorite-fictional-character project, I got all donned up as Sherlock. And now, I've become rather smitten with the new Sherlock as portrayed by Benedict, but in my mind, the old Sherlock with his funny hat and pipe will always be *THE* Sherlock. Take a look at my attempt to put these words into art:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/191253483475

Would you help us raise funds for the new library in Ethiopia? Any bids are very much appreciated!

Here's the link to the seller's page for Ethiopia Reads:

Ethiopia Reads' eBay seller list

Thank you for your support, especially in showing kids that philanthropy still lives and thrives!

 

[jcwu]

When my brother and I first came to the US, my dad brought us to this really nice couple's house, and the lady taught us English. I remember she used Curious George books to help us learn the language, and with each book we read, she would send us home with a cassette tape of her reading it, so we could listen to it and learn the proper pronunciation. I can still kind of remember her soft matronly voice describing George's antics - what a silly monkey!

Now, years later, whenever I see Curious George, it brings back childhood memories of the kind lady who cared enough for these two immigrant boys to help them with the difficult transition of fitting into a new culture.

But enough about my childhood. Without further ado - This Is George.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/191252988351

 

[killdeer43]

Wish I had seen this earlier.
I just went through the links a couple of times and will return to have closer looks at more of the fascinating pieces. I often look with the thought of choosing a favorite or two but in this case it might be difficult.
Great project for a good cause.

Wishing you all the success in the world. and thanks for sharing the links, eaceful:
Joe

 

[killdeer43]

Here's an early favorite.
Enjoyed the alliteration in the title. eaceful:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Liesels-Low-Leisurely-Library-by-Danielle-Case-Inspired-by-The-Book-Thief-/191253009043?pt=Art_Prints&hash=item2c87915293

Still looking,
Joe

*Also enjoyed The Book Thief, BTW.

 

[jcwu]

Hey Joe! Thank you so much for the supportive kind words!

So we actually have a good mix of different sources in this auction - some artwork came from established professionals who belong to an illustrators' agency, and some came from animation/art students at a local university. Apparently, one of the student pieces got the attention of the agent at the agency, and last I heard, there was either a commission or possible employment being offered. I love it when people help, and end up being helped!

We're down to less than 24 hours left! If anyone's just catching this thread and haven't had a chance to take a look at the auctions, here's the link:

http://www.weehopes.org/10kj.php

Thanks again for any and all support!!

 

[jcwu]

(I'm starting to feel like one of those online vendors who keep sending out emails to remind you that the sale is almost over, but here goes...)

Less than 11 hours left until the auction ends tonight at 8PM Pacific time!

If you like to live off the high of bidding wars, there are a few pieces that have seen a lot of action and are over the $100 price range.

If you prefer to get a good bargain, there are still plenty of pieces under $20!

Whatever the case may be, if you'd like to help two kids realize their dreams of helping build a library in Ethiopia, take a look at the artwork we have showcased, pick out a piece or two that you'd like to hang on your walls, and bid away!

http://www.ebay.com/sch/ethiopiareads/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=200&_trksid=p3692

 

[jcwu]

SNAFU!!!

Well, it turns out when you advertise a charity like this, and a lot of friends sign up for new eBay accounts and bid up the prices in order to support the charity, it gets flagged as shill bidding by eBay, and the auctions get shut down. We tried to call eBay to talk this out but there was nothing they would do. So we are in the process of finding another auction host. For those who were following, stay tuned for more news.

A bummer, especially for the kids, but we'll figure out it!

 

[jcwu]

Good news!!!

So yesterday was a tough day for us, having to tell the kids that, just 8 hours away from the auction closing, that eBay had pulled all the listings. But we were able to help them explain that it wasn't that eBay was evil, but that eBay just wasn't built for this kind of auction. In fact, their anti-shilling email stated clearly: "Shill bidding is bidding by anyone ( including a seller's family, friends, roommates, employees, or online connections ) with the intent to artificially increase an item's price or apparent desirability." I guess when you've got friends and family who are bidding against each other on purpose so each one can claim bragging rights to contributing the most, it looks just like shill bidding to eBay.

But now to the good news - we are up and running! We found a plethora of other auction sites, and narrowed it down to one, and while the kids slept soundly, Dad slaved away to transfer all listings (good thing he saved a copy of EVERYTHING when posting to eBay) to the new auction site.

So... won't you celebrate with us, this second chance to teach kids to care about the world around them, by checking out our auctions?

http://www.weehopes.org/10kj.php

Webpage now links to the new auction host!

And.... THANK YOU!