Collage Mania: Don't delay, choose your purchase!

NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO OWN A PIECE OF FINE FABRIC ART AND AT THE SAME TIME, KNOW YOUR MONEY SUPPORTS A WORTHY CAUSE.

by Guest Blogger Virginia Spiegel

One hundred and sixty-one artists have donated artwork to Collage Mania 2009 to raise funds for the American Cancer Society through Fiberart For A Cause.

The 383 fiber collages can now be previewed here.

Photos:
1. Buy Organic by Virginia Spiegel
2. Forever by Linda B. Dunn for her grandmother
3. Flames of Hope by Cindy Simms a one year survivor and counting
4. Connections by Sue Bleiweiss
5. Serenity 1 by Sharon Tootles: In memory of my family and friends who have survived, died or who are battling cancer. I love you all.

Collage Mania opens May 5 with an $80 minimum donation for each artwork.

On May 6 and 7, the minimum donation drops to $40.

The goal of this three-day art extravaganza is to raise at least $20,000 For the American Cancer Society. Fiberart For A Cause (FFAC) has already donated more than $170,000.

When I began Fiberart For A Cause five years ago, my goal was to raise $90 for the American Cancer Society using fiberart. My sister, Nancy J. Spiegel Rosman, is chair of the Forest Lake, MN Relay For Life and I wanted to support her fundraising efforts. We are both so thankful for the cancer research that made it possible for our Dad to be a colon cancer survivor.

Before I knew it, my tiny effort had been expanded through the support of the online group Quiltart. Karey Bresenhan, Director of International Quilt Festival - Houston, Chicago and Long Beach, became FFAC's Honorary Chairperson and guided the Postcard Project toward an amazing $120,000 raised for the ACS. Fiber artists have been beyond generous donating their artwork to the Postcard Project, the Invitational Reverse Auctions, and Collage Mania.

There are very few families whose lives have not been touched by cancer. That is one reason why dedications in honor of and in memory of those fighting cancer are so important in the Collage Mania pages. It's great art, but it's art with a meaning and a purpose also.

Collage Mania is the final big FFAC fundraiser as I return to my studio fulltime.

I treasure all the friendships I have made with artists and patrons during the five-year run of FFAC and salute their generosity and kindness.

Sue Bleiweiss adds: "Unfortunately I am not a stranger to having lost loved ones to cancer so for me, to decide to contribute a small piece of artwork for such a worthy cause is an easy one.

It's a fantastic feeling when your collage sells because not only have you helped raise money for the American Cancer Society but there's validation for the artwork that you've submitted.

Virginia has done an incredible thing with Collage Mania. Not only has she raised the level of awareness of the importance of coming forward and getting involved she's
created a community of goodwill, cooperation and given artists who have lost someone to cancer an outlet to create a piece of artwork to celebrate the lives of the ones they want to remember.

Knowing that the artwork will raise money for research and hang in someones home where it will be admired and cherished is really icing on the cake. I have nothing but admiration for all that Virginia has done with Collage Mania and I wish her much success with all her future endeavors."

-- Sue Bleiweiss is a mixed media fiber artist living in Massachusetts USA. This is her second year contributing to Collagemania. You can see more of her work at www.suebleiweiss.com.