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spotlight arts
Art For a Cause
BV West sophomore participates in an art fundraiser for Joplin, Mo. MORGAN CORMACK Web Editor
flower is a symbol of hope; I think that goes well with the Joplin benefit theme.” Out of 90 other artists, she was also the youngest at the event, being 15 years old. At the event, Webb’s piece was immediately auctioned and bought at $250. Her n Sunday, May 22, 2011, the community of Joplin, Mo. was forever changed aunt bought the piece right as the fundraiser started. BV West Senior Amanda Stumpf by one of the most destructive natural disasters in American history. The volunteered at the event, along with her mother. EF5 tornado that hit the town at 5:34 P.M. killed 160 innocent people and “I had volunteered at a previous art auction for the Alzheimer’s Association and we impacted the lives thousands more. Even 4 months later, the town is still devastated: were asked if we wanted to come help at the Twist and Shout auction.” Stumpf said. rare intact homes, stores destroyed, and not a large amount of money to rebuild what “I registered bidders and notified the winning bidders from the silent auction.” was once Joplin. Many efforts have been Just like other people attending the event, Stumpf made to help the town and its victims, with got to meet some interesting artists. many successes. One particular effort has “I met an artist who had photographs of items A poppy flower is a symbol impacted a BV West student. that were affected by the tornado in the auction.” Stumpf of hope; I think that goes well Sophomore Emily Webb participated in said. “After the auction, the artist made a point to meet Project Reclamation, also called the “Twist the buyer of one of his pictures, a young boy who bought with the Joplin benefit theme. and Shout” art show on August 27th, an the picture of a baseball helmet.” EMILY WEBB art show dedicated to victims of the Joplin There were also many different types of artwork, Sophomore disaster. It was held at the Leedy-Voulkos Art from all 90 artists. Some pieces made a huge part of the Gallery in KCMO. “We auctioned our arttotal profit of the show. work. Webb said. “All of the proceeds go to “During the live auction, there was a piece which benefiting Joplin and the relief down there.” Webb was introduced to the fundraiser looked like a doll.” Stumpf said. “It was made out of half a globe, wood spindles from by her art teacher. a chair, and fan blades. It sold for over a thousand dollars. It was very interesting to see “I’ve had this art teacher since the 3rd grade.” Webb said. “She works at the galall of the artwork and I’m glad I got to participate.” lery the art show was at. She asked me if I wanted to be in the show, and I said yes.” The grand total for Twist and Shout’s success was over $23,000. The profits are She plans on pursuing art in the future, so she took a hold of the great opportunity. going towards Joplin work in the near future. However, the art studio is still taking The artists’ pieces of art transformed actual tornado debris into a new way of seedonations. Their online goal is $20,000. If you wish to donate (even if it’s only a doling and sharing the experience. For her piece, Webb was inspired by not only the lar or so), go to www.kcartists4joplin.com and select the “Donations” tab on the left disaster of the town, but also by history she learned a couple of years back. of the webpage. Sophomore Emily Webb poses in front of her painting at an art show. The art show in which “I made a poppy flower painting with a metal lid from the tornado debris as the she participated raised over $20,000 for the relief effors in Joplin, Mo. Photo by Abby Krstulic center of the flower. In 8th grade we studied World War II and I remember there being a lot of poppies after the war, so I thought ‘Oh that’d be cool!’ because a poppy
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