Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation Hosts Ubuntu Charity Benefit

Ubuntu Charity Benefit, Art Show and Film Screening to benefit Russell Simmons’ Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation

PHOTOS: Roderick Hunt
RoderickAlan.com@RodNotRob


Last Thursday at the historic LA Artcore Gallery & Art Center in downtown Los Angeles, over 200 guests enjoyed the sights and sounds of Africa during the Ubuntu Charity Benefit – an art exhibit, film screening and live auction featuring emerging African artists.

A portion of the night’s proceeds have been donated to Russell Simmons’ Rush Philanthropic Art Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering emerging and underrepresented artists.

Celebrities who came out to support the cause included: Actress Meagan Good (“Think Like A Man”), actress Tatyana Ali (TV One sitcom “Love That Girl” & “The Young and the Restless”), actress Reagan Gomez-Preston (“What Goes Around Comes Around,” “Love,Inc”), film producer Brett Ratner (“Prison Break,” “Horrible Bosses”), actor Quinton Aaron (lead male in “The Blind Side”), recording artistGoapele (“Break of Dawn”), actress/singer Shvona Lavette (“Brothers & Sisters,” “Lincoln Heights,” album 3 Percent & Rising), actress Eva Amurri Martino (“Californication,” “How I Met Your Mother”), actress Liz Fuller (“CSI,” “Road To Juarez”), author, music and film producer Quincy “QD3” Jones (“The Carter” documentary, Tupac’s “To Live and Die In LA”), actress Gloria Huwiler (“Awaken”), Kenyan actor Oliver Litondo (“The First Grader”, which has been nominated for an NAACP Award), producerRichard Harding and Sam Feuer (“The First Grader”) and John Rubey, President AEG Network LIVE.

Throughout the night, guests enjoyed live performances from music and dance troupe Balle Fette bu Senegal, a screening of the critically-acclaimed BAFTA-nominated short film “Mwansa The Great”, a pristine exhibit of African art and a live auction benefiting the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation’s Artist in Residency program.

The exhibit and live auction featured pieces from Los Angeles artist Azul “213” Amaral, award winning Zambian artists Mwamba Mulangala, Starry Mwaba, Vincentio Phiri, Lutanda Mwamba, Geoffrey Phiri, veteran artist and curator William Bwalya Miko, and Zambian sculptors The Zeta Brothers andRikki Lungu.

Event organizers Gloria Huwiler and Tulsi Karpio produced the Ubuntu Charity Benefit as an effort to promote diversity in the film and art community by showcasing work from talented African artists. Gloria Huwiler is an actress and philanthropist dedicated to promoting performing and fine artists in Africa. Raised in Zambia, she has a deep commitment to developing artistic work from Africa, and helping the careers of fellow creators on the continent. Tulsi Karpio has worked extensively in the art and philanthropic worlds, curating and promoting Latin American Art.

Sponsors for the night included: Supperclub, Remy Martin, Highland Park, The Macallan and Brugal, Ford Models, Mike Vensel, Blissmo, AEG, Lafarge and Joumana Rizk.

The auction to raise money for the Artist in Residentcy program at Rush Philanthropic Art Foundation is still open. Anyone interested in the pieces should visit http://www.rushphilanthropic.org/

“I am honored that the Ubuntu Charity Benefit has chosen Rush Philanthropic as this year’s beneficiary.  The old Ubuntu adage that “I am because you are” has never been more true.  When we acknowledge the connectedness of all of us, and sow good seeds by supporting emerging artists, we uplift and empower entire communities,” says Russell Simmons, Rush Philanthropic Co-founder.

The fundraising portion of the benefit features an art-themed live auction benefiting the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation’s Artist in Residency program. For one year, an African artist will be chosen to train and gain exposure at the Rush Galleries in New York, made possible by the Artist in Residency opportunity. The exhibit and live auction features pieces from Los Angeles artist Azul “213” Amaral, local artist/actor Rockmond Dunbar, award winning Zambian artists Mwamba Mulangala, Starry Mwaba, Vincentio Phiri, Lutanda Mwamba, Geoffrey Phiri, veteran artist and curator William Bwalya Miko, and Zambian sculptors The Zeta Brothers and Rikki Lungu.


Proceeds benefit the Rush Philanthropic Arts Education & Gallery Programs

Source: Fusicology