OptART, a project based philanthropic arts initiative, will host a benefit party and silent auction at the L.E.S. Gallery, NYC (107 Suffolk Street at Rivington), from 7pm – 12am.  Photographs taken by the children in the Tamil village of Pandiruppu in the eastern province of Ampara, Sri Lanka will be auctioned to raise funds for the Visions of Hope Community Center and Sri Lankan Children’s Trust. 

Local musicians Sharkey (HUNTER), DutchE.Germ (YEMENWED/GANGGANGDANCE/WHITE MAGIC), SMALL BLACK, and producer/engineer Chris Coady will dj.  The silent auction will close at 10pm but the event will last until midnight.

Come, browse, bid, imbibe, dance and be merry because it's all for a good cause. ($3 suggested donation at door.  Cash bar. 

     Over a one-month period in 2008, Lindsay Aveilhe, founder of OptART, lived and taught photography to approximately 30 children at the Sri Lanka Children’s Trust's Visions of Hope Community Center.  Life has not been easy for the children of Sri Lanka’s eastern provinces. Decades of ethnic violence and continued poverty, alcoholism, and high rates of violence against women and children were only made worse by the 2004 tsunami that completely devastated the region.  The death toll in the tiny village of Pandiruppu alone was more than 1,700.

     Through sponsorship from Lomography Asia and private donors, the children were provided with Colorsplash and Fisheye cameras and film. The culmination of the month long project is an impressive and intimate collection of images that provide insight into the daily lives of the children.  The photographs will be available for early viewing and bidding as of August 3^rd.

DOLAMAKES has been fortunate to help sponser and volunteer with the PhotoOPT project.  We look forward to many more!