Gallery Benefitting ALS Research to Take Place April 6 through May 4 in Partnership with The New York Design Center and Fuel3D
New York, New York — March 23, 2015 — When multi-media artist Brian Fender was diagnosed with ALS nearly four years ago, he and his partner Ron tried to hold onto their lives in New York City. But after a year into life with ALS, they took a trip home to Arkansas for a visit and never went back to their apartment in the city.
For Brian, it took a terminal illness to fully appreciate the multitude of blessings that come with just being alive. His rediscovered love for the basic beauty of life, lead him to reconnect with artists and their work and his own creative spirit.
Through this transformative process, Brian has created and recently launched the non-profit Artists Lend Support (ALS). Artists Lend Support is a fine art website with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the ALS Therapy Development Institute (www.ALS.net), a nonprofit biotechnology organization developing effective treatments for ALS.
To literally bring the mission behind Artists Lend Support to life, Brian Fender will be returning to New York to host a pop up art exhibition in partnership with 1stdibs Gallery at The New York Design Center, 200 Lexington Avenue, 10th Floor, from Monday, April 6 to Monday, May 4. The Gallery hours of operation will be from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. An opening reception is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7, from 6-8 p.m.
The following artists who have ALS and still inspire and create art will have work on display:
- Brian Fender: Brian will team up with renowned 3D artist Josh Harker to create a custom piece inspired by his journey with ALS. This piece will feature facial scans of Brian, Ron, and ALS supporters attending the gallery opening, all captured using Fuel3Ds SCANIFY scanner. The final piece will take the form of a sculpture featuring a collage of faces that he will assemble using CAD technology on-site at the gallery. The piece will be sold at auction during the opening night event, in support of ALS TDI.
- Tucker Stilley: Tucker has been paralyzed due to the effects of ALS for years but that hasn’t stopped his creativity. He uses eye tracking technology to program his computer to create. The piece he has donated was created through his eye movements captured by his computer.
- Steve Dezember II: Steve uses his wheelchair as his paint brush to create his vibrant paintings.
Other artists who will be showing and donating proceeds from their works include Carl Barnett, Shanan Campanaro, Robert Greene, Alicia Lachance, Jovi Schnell, Karine Laval, Benjamin Allire Saenz, Jason Twiggy Lott, Steve Spazuk, LaDawna Whiteside, Michele Mikesell, Robin Tucker, Joshua Vogel, Kathi Robinson Frank and Tobie Giddio.
"I love artists and their creative spirits and, by curating this website and launching the Gallery in New York, hopefully I will expose others to contemporary artists who they might not be aware of," says Brian. "I send a heartfelt thanks to all the brilliant artists who have donated their work and support ALS, it truly makes a difference.
About Artists Lend Support
Artist Lend Support is a non-profit, fine art website with proceeds / partial proceeds going to ALS services and research. The proceeds will go to ALS TDI whose continued research stays focused on the bottom line and the money raised for them utilized wisely.
About New York Design Center
Located at 200 Lexington Avenue, The New York Design Center is the industrys premier resource for fine furnishings. Built in 1926 as the New York Furniture Exchange, 200 Lex was the dream of visionaries in the furniture industry. Today, the New York Design Centers rich history enhances its reputation as a respected resource for imaginative solutions to any design challenge. Representing avant-garde, contemporary innovations as well as classic creations, 200 Lex is committed to remaining at the forefront of design. The Design Center houses over 33,000 square feet of antiques and 20th century design from 1stdibs dealers as well as Access to Design, a program that assists consumers in navigating the design process. To learn more, visit www.nydc.com.
About Fuel3D
Fuel3D is a developer of advanced 3D scanning systems and solutions. Originally developed for the medical imaging sector, the Fuel3D technology has been adapted for the broader 3D market, with the goal of bringing the benefits of point-and-shoot 3D imaging to consumers, professionals and businesses. Since raising more than $300,000 and generating worldwide attention through its successful Kickstarter campaign in 2013, the company has gone from strength to strength, raising millions in private investment and signing retail and distribution partners across the world.
Based on technology developed by Professor Ron Daniel, Lecturer in Engineering Science at Oxford University, Fuel3D is today led by Stuart Mead, CEO, a veteran of several successful global technology ventures, and supported by an expert team of hardware and software engineers and scientists. For more information, visit www.fuel-3D.com
About the ALS Therapy Development Institute
The ALS Therapy Development Institute and its scientists actively discover and develop treatments for ALS. The Institute is the worlds first and largest nonprofit biotech focused 100 percent on ALS research. Led by ALS patients and their families, the charity understands the urgent need to slow and stop this horrible disease. Based in Cambridge, MA, the Institute has served as one of the leaders in sharing data and information with academic and ALS research organizations, patients and their families. For more information, visit www.als.net.
