CAMDEN — Becky Lomas and Matt Robinson have spent so much time in Japan studying art, culture, and language that they've come to consider it a second home.
Now, the Rutgers–Camden graduates are using art to raise money for the victims of the March 11 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis in Japan.
"Raise Up Japan," an art sale featuring artwork by professional and student artists, will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 1 at 144 North Second Street in Philadelphia during the First Friday art sale in the city.
The gallery will be filled with photographs, paintings, drawings, and sculptures by local artists and Rutgers–Camden students. Artwork by children from Hopkinson Elementary School in Philadelphia, Orchard Friends School in Moorestown, and the Montessori Learning Center in Cherry Hill will also be on display and for sale.
All proceeds from the art sale will be donated to relief organizations providing aid to Japan.
"I wish I could be in Japan, but I know right now I need to help," says Lomas. "I think that an art sale is a wonderful way to support Japan."
The event is being organized by Sean Duffy, an assistant professor of psychology at Rutgers–Camden; Lomas and Robinson, both Cherry Hill residents and Rutgers–New Brunswick graduate elementary education students; Rutgers–Camden senior childhood studies major Amanda Squillace of Cherry Hill; and Tara Toal of Voorhees, a 2008 Rutgers–Camden graduate.
Squillace, who has a friend living in Japan, says she immediately started to think of ways to raise money for the relief effort in the days following the disaster.
"I looked at all of the people who were displaced from their homes and I thought if that was me and my family, I would be so grateful for any help that was offered," Squillace says. "I want Raise Up Japan to inspire Philadelphians to join in our efforts in supporting the Japanese people."
Squillace was able to rent the vacant space on North Second Street for use as an art gallery for the April 1 event. She has also been instrumental in reaching out to area artists and collecting children's art for the sale.
"I work with children, so I wanted to show them that they could also do something during this time of crisis," she says.
Lomas, Robinson, and Toal first went to Japan with Duffy in 2007 as part of an international studies trip through Rutgers–Camden. For those students, the earthquake and tsunami hit close to home.
"We all have an opportunity to stand united and show love and support for one another," Robinson says. "Having an art sale is but a small contribution."
For more information on the art sale fundraiser, visit crab.rutgers.edu/~cultlab/raiseupjapan.html
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