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2010 Circle of Art Entries

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2005 Participating Artists

Photo from Circle of Art 2006

2010 marks the 6th Circle of Art benefit for Food Gatherers. The Circle of Art is a party, a project and a group effort by artists and art lovers to help fight hunger where we live. Simply stated, a bunch of artist donate small works of art, Saline Picture Frame Co. mats them all and hosts a party, lots of people come to the party and bid on the art and then Food Gatherers uses the money raised to feed hungry people.

The Circle of Art was conceived at the lunch table at our shop. Over the course of several wide ranging discussions with our staff and some artist friends we found ourselves focusing on the role of our business as a member of a larger community and ways we might make a difference. We were looking for ways to leverage our resources and perhaps make a more significant contribution back to our community. One common thread that emerged was our place within a circle of artists and art lovers - our clients, our community and our friends.

We decided to partner with Food Gatherers for a couple of reasons;

• Food Gatherers is a local organization whose work we admired
• They are a very efficient, non-bureaucratic group started by private citizens who saw a problem and set out solve it. They are a crucial part of a circle of non-profit agencies, private businesses and other food banks working together to solve a pretty basic problem - getting food to hungry people in our community
• We all agreed on it (a rare occurrence in our lunch discussions)

Food Gatherers own mission statement sums it up:

"Food Gatherers exists to alleviate hunger and eliminate its causes in our community by: reducing food waste through the rescue and distribution of perishable and non perishable food; coordinating with other hunger relief providers; educating the public about hunger; and developing new food resources. Food Gatherers is not only Michigan's first food rescue program, but the first program of its kind to be founded by a for-profit business, our own Zingerman's Delicatessen. Founded in 1997, we provide enough food for more than 4,500 meals a day. Food Gatherers brings the food to over 150 community programs serving our neighbors - mostly families and children, in need of food."

Since then The Circle of Art has truly became a community affair with the circle growing larger each year. Over the last 5 years generous artists, established and emerging, have donated almost 1500 small pieces of art. That has translated into over $70,000 for Food Gatherers. In the greater scheme of need and generosity this is a modest amount but we find it impressive. This money is raised small picture by small picture - the generous gifts of creative work from the artists in our community. A 6x8 watercolor can be a wonderful thing in many ways with a worth hard to calculate. At The Circle of Art that small painting can be displayed, appreciated, find a loving home and provide more than a month's worth of nutritious meals for a hungry child.

Times are tough in Michigan. Organizations like Food Gatherers face the squeeze of shrinking donation sources in the face of rising need. One of the more generous artist contributors to The Circle of Art joked that the relying on artists to raise money was a flawed premise because so many of them struggle themselves. We continue to be amazed at the generosity of the participating artists who not only graciously donate art work but also are among the most spirited bidders on the work of their fellow artists.

We feel privileged to be part of circle that includes these artists, the hardworking folks at Food Gatherers, and the generous art lovers who purchase the art. With all your help the Circle of Art will continue to make our community a little bit better

Mae
Oil by John Copley

Single Fish
Lino Print and Batiked Fabric by Pat Clubine