Artists Rally Around City Council Hopeful, Host Fundraiser

On Thursday, the local arts community will come together to host, the Artists for Cumbo Art Sale, an art auction to benefit a candidate for City Council at the Free Candy mixed-use arts space. Though the creative collective does not typically band together to endorse a politial figure, this instance is unique in that the candidate is one of their own. 

Laurie Cumbo, an arts advocate and community leader, is running for City Council for the 35th Council District. Currently represented by Councilwoman Letitia James, the seat will be available for the taking in the upcoming election. 

In 1999, Cumbo created the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA), currently located in the BAM Cultural District. She also served as director of the museum. 

"Her candidacy is bigger, more important, than just the district she’s representing. What Laurie is really representing is the arts," wrote Danny Simmons, Neo-African Abstract Expressionist painter and co-founder and chairman of Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation.

"We have a chance to elect someone who is from the arts, from a family of artists, who knows the struggles and needs of artists and arts organizations," Simmons continued. "For sure she will have way more on her plate than just our needs, but she is intimate with how the arts change lives and communities."

More than 50 Brooklyn-based artists are rallying in Cumbo's behalf, making donations of their artworks to raise funds for her campaign.

All works are valued above $300, and many of the early submissions are available to be previewed online. Among those showing support by donating pieces to be auctioned off are artists including Agnes Murray, Kathleen Hayek, Stephen Basso, Anne Kaye, Audrey Anastasi and Simmons himself, who is spearheading the event.

The public is invited to view the show and to enjoy the festivities for the $10 admission, applicable to an art purchase. The art sale runs from 6-9 p.m., with an after party celebration from 9-11 p.m. Free Candy is located at 905 Atlantic Ave., one block east of Fulton Street at St. James Place.

For more information about this event and the campaign, call: 1-347-470-0609.