Art that Scares You--the auction begins

[ellen_datlow]

From Cassiphone: Ever read a short story by Paul Haines? Chances are that afterwards you needed a strong drink, strong cup of coffee, or a long shower. Paul is well known in the Australian speculative fiction community for writing the creepy stuff, the scary shit, the story that makes you go 'whoa' or 'aargh' or 'ewwwwww.' And we love him for it, because he does it so damn well.

Right now, Paul and his family are dealing with some scary shit of their own. After being diagnosed with bowel cancer, having sections of his bowel removed and enduring six months worth of chemotherapy, he has recently discovered he has spots on his liver. Paul has met this news by reloading his guns and is going to fight it with two other forms of chemotherapy for cancers like his, combined with a monoclonal antibody called Avastin. Avastin, however is not part of Medicare or the private health system's funding at this stage. It costs $20,000 to do it."

Read how you can help Art That Scares You and bid on the items up for auction, including
TITLE: 'The Survivors', 1994, by Shaun Tan
MEDIA: gouache and coloured pencil on paper
DESCRIPTION: This was a cover illustration produced for Aurealis - I think the first issue to have full colour printing.

other items:
I just donated a limited edition poem written by Jane Yolen and produced as a beautiful broadsheet by Midsummer's Night Press.

Sock puppets (I bid on one)
Books
magazines
a few very odd unmentionable items:

decorative unmentionables

more original art and other goodies.

and pass it on!

Comments

[joycemocha.livejournal.com]

Too bad it's Genetech and not Centicor. Centicor (producers of a chimeric monoclonal antibody called infliximab, or Remicade) provides financial aid for those who can't afford it. That said, Remicade's uses address rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's Disease, and ulcerative colitis. Avastin is slightly related (humanized monoclonal antibody rather than a chimeric). Fascinating reading, including Genetech's own refusal to support its usage for eye treatment in a less-expensive form. Lots of pharmaceutical politics involved here.

Thanks for letting us know this. I'm over to take a look.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Would they help no matter where the person lives? Paul is Australian.

You're very welcome...

[joycemocha.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like Remicade does what Avastin does, even though they're related. I'd heard through Crohn's groups that Centicor was helping people in Canada and Europe as well as the US, but Centicor isn't as restrictive with Remicade as Genetech appears to be with Avastin.

Still, it might be worth asking.

I know it's just a start...

[themadblonde]

but I'm heartened to read how much they've raised already. There are good people out there in the world. Gives me hope.

Re: I know it's just a start...

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

They'll make it --and yes, people DO care.

[mroctober.livejournal.com]

Just mae a donation. A small amount, all I could afford, but if it helps...

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Everything helps! Thank you Steve.

[clockwork-zero.livejournal.com]

i wonder if i should look into donating a piece of jewelry.. or is it too late do you think? The winner from of the necklace was very very pleased... but I'm not sure how much my contribution raised? Was it worth it or should i maybe just toss the cost of postage towards it do you figure?

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Hey there! Yes it raised a nice chunk and I'm sure they'd be delighted to have a piece offered. You can start with a relatively low amount (I don't know, maybe $30 and see how it goes from there)? But it's up to you...it WOULD have to be mailed to Australia (most likely) unless more people from outside oz know about the auction.

[clockwork-zero.livejournal.com]

I've mailed a few things to OZ but they tend to take longer. If it helps someone out.. I have no problems starting it at $25-$30. I've not read his work (will do so soon as I can). Poor guy. this sounds quite rough.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

If you check out the blog I think it tells you how to "donate" --just write a blog post with what it is you're donating, with a photo and price to start...

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

In fact, I've just donated something, although I mailed it to them to post as I don't have an lj account from which I can post photos unless they're urls.

[clockwork-zero.livejournal.com]

Cool! I can't wait to see what you donated. :D I emailed them as well - and am thinking about doing something special. I was going to just send off one of the necklaces - but I'm going to see if I can come up with something more. My time is really crunched these days, so I'll have to see what I can do. I know I'll donate something :D

thanks for letting us all know about this!

cheers :D

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

more donations added. Check them out and bid! Most are really inexpensive and you're doing a good deed.

[clockwork-zero.livejournal.com]

Hi!
I thought I'd give you an update :D
I created a necklace on the weekend and finally got it posted yesterday. This morning there were 7(!) bids on it! I was a little shocked since there are somethings with almost no bids at all....
anyway, I had started the bidding at $25 - thinking "well, it would still be a good price if someone buys it at that".
but now the bidding is at $70!!

I'm more pleased than I could have imagined. :D

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

When I last looked it had at least two bids! Congrats!!

[clockwork-zero.livejournal.com]

yes! i'm just tickled! and I see you've also raised $45! Wow! I'm so glad you posted about this. :D It's more money to be honest then I could have donated on my own. I doubt it will go much higher - but its really a thrill.