Benefit Art Auction Aims to Unseat Bush

[AmyStrange]

Benefit Art Auction Aims to Unseat Bush
By SHARON THEIMER, Associated Press Writer

FROM: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040613/ap_on_el_pr/art_of_politics&cid=694&ncid=2043
WASHINGTON - Andy Warhol's pop creations, William Wegman's offbeat portraits and the abstract drawings of Willem de Kooning are more than works of art to some Democrats. The auction-block objects are a means to a desired goal — defeating President Bush (news - web sites) and other Republicans on Nov. 2.

Artists, art galleries and wealthy collectors are contributing more than 170 works for an auction June 29 in New York to raise money for two pro-Democratic groups, America Coming Together and the political action committee ARTS PAC, that will use the cash for voter mobilization and other election-year efforts.

"Join artists and friends in saying 'Bye-Bye Bush' and help to elect Democratic candidates at the federal, state and local levels," an event flier says.

One artist behind the auction is Chuck Close, a New York-based photorealist painter who sought the donated works. The sentiment among several artists, according to Close, is that the Bush administration's anti-terrorism efforts, epitomized by the Patriot Act, are endangering civil rights, including artistic freedom.

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