As you may or may not have heard, Western Illinois University is naming their brand-new Center for The Performing Arts after your pal and mine, former Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Illinois State University, frustrated ex-New Yorker and erstwhile Candy Man, Al Goldfarb. Apparently, he went on to do great things after leaving ISU (who knew?) It is currently under construction with a 'late 2025' completion date, but they are selling 'seats' in the CPA now for $250 apiece.

If you're at all like me and simultaneously adore and live to harass Al, I can think of no better way to honor him than to purchase a seat(s) in his new Performing Arts Center and have the nameplate inscribed with something inappropriate. So that's what this GoFundMe is about.

Listen, I love messing with Al. Not $250 worth, but maybe $25-$50 worth. Maybe you love it $5 or $10 worth but still want to get in on the fun. Here's your chance. The more that join in, the better (why stop at just one seat?).

I'm going to run this GoFundMe thru Valentine's Day to allow for those interested to replenish their giving tree after the holidays and so we can show Al our love on an appropriate day.

Once it closes, depending on how much we've raised, that will determine how many seats we buy. I will then open a suggestion box for plate inscription ideas followed by a poll to choose from them. We get two lines, 32 characters & spaces per line. My initial stabs are:

'Has anyone ever seen Al Goldfarb

& Edwin Wilson in the same room?'

'Chair is made from recycled beer

bottles, foam & pipe cleaners'

'The Scott Walters Memorial Chair

Supporting valued butts since 90'

If, by some chance, the seats sell out before we raise enough for one (less than 25% have sold as of 120524), the money raised will be sent as a general donation to the GPAC*. But if we raise enough for 4 or more (i.e. $1000), we ALSO will receive recognition on the 'Goldfarb Center for Performing Arts Donor Wall' which will REALLY drive Al crazy.

So, give if you can, sit back and watch if you can't. It's ultimately a good thing as the money used to buy seats will go to help burgeoning young theater artists (or erect yet another statue of Al on the WIU campus- the verbiage was unclear).

https://fundraise.givesmart.com/e/mTAB5w?vid=1b7ezo

*This GoFundMe will be monitored and co-executed by a former ISU CFA employee for transparency, your peace of mind (and to keep us from getting TOO inappropriate)