Fernandomania Art Show fundraiser

Hi, my name is Bill Cormalis Jr, artist and curator. As a Los Angeles Dodger fan, I have been spending the season celebrating the 40th Anniversary of "Fernandomania" by making artwork of the celebrated Mexican baseball player Fernando Valenzuela. My goal was to have an art show displaying the artwork I had made during the season.

In June I had heard of unaccompanied minors being held in Pomona, California at the Pomona Fairplex. As a resident of Montclair, California, Pomona is literally the next city over. As a father, my heart breaks for these children who have become displaced from their parents. I noticed there was a designated donation center for this housing facility in Pomona, and amongst the list of items needed which includes basics such as plain t-shirts and hygiene supplies, enrichment items such as art supplies are needed to keep the children busy.

As an artist, I understand the benefits art can provide, regarding stimulating the mind, being focused and constructive. With this in mind, I chose to go beyond myself and ask my art friends to make art for for a purpose! To help raise funds with some of the proceeds of sales from the art they donated to the cause. The response from artists across the country was simply amazing! You guys really answered the call to help make this event awesome!

With the event being October 9th, at No.18 Gallery in Pomona, California within the historic Pomona Packing house, we are under the gun and looking for funds during this coming week during set up. Many art shows and exhibitions will charge a fee to artist for hanging the art within the gallery, perhaps the gallery takes a percentage of the sale, or even have the artist sell a few tickets to get into the show. Considering the artists already spent time making the art specifically for the show and donating some or even 100% of the proceeds to the cause, it just did not feel right to also charge them a fee. That being said, I am realizing that the fees are for those incidentals that pop up like needing to rent/make fixtures (display cases, podiums), printing flyers, buying frames for donated art that is not prepared to hang and even post event clean up. These are just a few examples that I'm running into currently.

The ultimate goal is to have this beautiful event October 9th, celebrating a cultural icon that will benefit children in need! Does this sound like something worthy of helping out? I hope so! Any donations will be used to put on the event, go to purchasing supplies for unaccompanied minors and will be GREATLY appreciated. The fundraiser will run through the end of the month.

The event will be photographed and video will be taken. I will broadcast the photos and video upon completion of the event.

If you are in the Los Angeles, Orange County or the Inland Empire, you are within striking distance to view the exhibition in person. Please come!