Artists in Need Helping People in Need: Leibovitz and Hirst for Red Cross

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed)
Sep 27th 2009 at 10:01AM

On November 17, 2009, several celebrity-designed luggage will go up for auction at Sotheby's. The purpose is to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Red Cross, which is about as worthy an organization as one can imagine. In all seriousness – most people have no idea the true range of services and support that the Red Cross offers. If a soldier overseas needs to be reached because of an emergency back home, the family can call the Red Cross, which will do all the legwork. So, it's exciting to see some big names getting behind this cause.

Among the designers, however, are some artists who have been in the news lately. Annie Leibovitz, fresh from her negotiations with Art Capital Group over her $24 million loan, is finding some time for goodwill despite her financial situation. Her contribution is a red-lined backpack designed specifically for camera equipment.

Damien Hirst has also gotten in on the charitable action. The ~~taxidermist~~ artist who developed a name dumping maritime life in formaldehyde and affixing as many diamonds as possible to skulls has put together a tall black trunk with little drawers to hold surgical devices – which is what Hirst uses to build his ... ummmm ... stuff. This piece, in particular, should be in high demand, now that a Damien Hirst piece may actually have been touched by Damien Hirst. Last November, he laid off 17 of the 22 people involved in his pill cabinet creation.

Let's hope that these pieces – and the others brought to Sotheby's in two months – sell for fantastic prices. Art market be damned! This event is for a great organization, and every extra dollar of success will help someone out who needs it.

Tags: annie leibovitz, AnnieLeibovitz, art, art auction, art auctions, ArtAuction, ArtAuctions, artist, artwork, auction house, auction houses, AuctionHouse, AuctionHouses, charity auction, CharityAuction, damien hirst, DamienHirst, hirst, leibovitz, louis vuitton, LouisVuitton, red cross, RedCross, sothebys

Filed under: Auctions, Art, Charity

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Edie Sep 28th 2009 2:01AM

now that a Damien Hirst piece may actually have been touched by Damien Hirst.

Oh, snaps, homie.

But for real, this should be really wonderful! I used to work for the Red Cross as a Medical Researcher, and services that the Red Cross provides, with so little money, is truly amazing. This should be wonderful!