Art Knows No Borders – an art, literary, and music event to raise awareness of the effects of war, ethnic conflicts, and genocide on present and subsequent generations, in particular the stalemate struggle over Nagorno-Karabakh. All proceeds from the art, door, and auctions for the evening go to Doctors Without Borders.

YOUR ART MAKES A DIFFERENCE!

Seeking Artists and Others to donate for Special Silent Auction for
Doctors Without Borders this November!

YOUR DONATION COULD PROVIDE THESE THINGS:
$100  -- Infection-fighting antibiotics to treat nearly 40 wounded children.
$250 -- A sterilization kit for syringes and needles used in mobile vaccination.
$1000 -- Emergency medical supplies to aid 5,000 disaster victims for a month.
$5500 – A health kit to care for 10,000 displaced people for 3 months.

7 – 9 PM, Tuesday, NOVEMBER 18, 2008

at Safari Sam’s, 5214 W. Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

$20 suggested donation at the door (No one will be turned away!)

        7 - 8:30   Silent auction of art + special performances

              8:30   Evening program and live auction

              9:00   Music evening begins, re-enter for live music

9:00 - 10:00   Cashing out on the terrace. Music program begins.

* Each of the first 500 attendees gets a free copy of the book Bombardirovka, a novel set during
   the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The evening will also feature two silent auctions: a Special Feature Auction of Art and an additional auction of Creative Industries and Other. There may also be a live auction.

The Special Feature Auction of Art -- We are seeking at least 100 artists to donate their work for this featured silent auction at the event. Some contributors so far include painter Miguel Osuna, sculptor Bruce Gray, and painter Jennifer M. Cunningham. Check out the contributors pages for the complete list!

The Creative Industries and Other Silent Auction include anyone else with an established talent. For example, writer Ann Pancake is donating a signed copy of her novel featured last fall in 'O' magazine. Tom Waits' guitarist is donating a flamenco lesson. Perrin Meyer of Meyer Sound is donating a tour for ten in one of the most exclusive sound factories on earth, ending with your favorite movie in one of the most high tech sound theaters on earth.

What are the real borders? – In 2004, while researching a novel in the Caucasus, I talked for hours with someone leaving his job doing landmine retrieval to pursue his dream of playing in his town's new orchestra. He had this to say:

"After this war [between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh], we live in our heads. Nothing seems real any more. After knowing what I know now, I don't wish war on anyone, or on anyone's children. The financial assistance to us has been very helpful, but what has also meant a lot is when the French [Doctors Without Borders], when they have come and helped us deal psychologically. The psychological issues have been the most hard for us to grapple with."

After my time in the Caucasus, I knew when I came back, I wanted to figure out a way to support Doctors Without Borders. -- Art Knows No Borders organizer Crystal Allene Cook

Nagorno-Karabakh is between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both Armenians and Azeris claim a right to the area and went to war over the region in the early 1990s, displacing hundreds of thousands from both countries and killing upwards of 30,000. The area remains at cease fire. No peace has been brokered, and the entire region, from Turkey to Azerbaijan, is locked up with closed borders due to this ethnic crisis.

The stalemate in the ethnic conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan deterred many groups from working in the area. In 2003 and 2004, Doctors Without Borders, with its focus on independent humanitarian aid rather than politics, was at the time one of the few organizations able to deliver mental health care to people there. Currently, Doctors Without Borders runs Armenia’s only drug-resistant tuberculosis program.

• At least 2 major artists to donate important works for the live auction.

• At least 100 artists from Los Angeles and around the world to donate a piece of art of their choice or preferrably on the theme of "Art Knows no Borders" or in response to the mission of Medecins Sans Frontiers and their work, and to reach out to have their work bought at the silent auction.



• Book arts or printing assistance to print the free 500 copies.

• Creative products, services, performances, or consulting or other products, services, or consulting.