In collaboration with Human Rights Watch, White Box will present WHERE IS AI WEIWEI? - a special exhibition and fundraiser event on June 7th to benefit Human Rights Watch and White Box's Global Outreach Initiatives.
White Box will honor Ai Weiwei with the first 2011 Richard Massey Foundation White Box Arts Award for his distinguished contributions to world art and culture. Due to the urgency of Ai Weiwei's continued detainment, White Box has decided to honor the artist on June 7, 2011 in conjunction with its benefit. This award pays tribute to Ai Weiwei as an unparalleled defender of the freedom of speech and recognizes his brilliant career as an artist, architect, global citizen, activist and Chinese patriot.
At 7 pm there will be a symposium titled WHO IS AI WEIWEI? and from 6-9 pm there will be screenings of selected video works by Ai Weiwei as well as an excerpt from Alison Klayman's documentary, Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry. The benefit exhibition, symposium, and video screenings will take place at White Box located at 329 Broome Street in the Bowery/Lower East Side art district in New York City. Artists have been invited to contribute works with social/political conscience that in some measure respond to Ai Weiwei's incarceration.
White Box plans to present a follow-up benefit event and auction in October 2011, at which time it is hoped that the artist will be present to accept the award in person.
All proceeds will equally benefit Human Rights Watch and White Box's Global Outreach Initiatives.
Download invite postcard PDF HERE
Download Media Kit HERE
See Jerome A. Cohen's interview HERE
NONNA'S LES PIZZERIA
MC: Tim Rollins
6 PM - Performances by Margaret Leng Tan | Lutz Rath | Tim Rollins and K.O.S. Poetry by Anthony Haden-Guest
7 PM - Symposium moderated by Jerome A. Cohen
Panelists - Alfredo Jaar | Eleanor Heartney | Carroll Bogert | Melik Kaylan | Alexander Melamid | Joan Lebold Cohen
8 PM - Benefit Art Sale
Previews June 6-7, 11am - 6pm
6 - 9 PM
Screenings of videos works by Ai Weiwei and excerpt from Alison Klayman's documentary Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry
Suggested Admission: $50
Donations (tax-deductible): http://whereisaiweiwei.eventbrite.com/
$100 Receive Limited Edition 3-D Ai Weiwei T-shirt by Ali Hossaini
$200 Receive Limited Edition Signed Photo by Christoph Draeger
Rsvp to: benefit@whiteboxny.org