Artists Chip in for Haiti Relief

Culture-makers across the country are banding together to raise money for the victims of last week's devastating earthquake in Haiti that leveled the country's capital. On Friday, some big-name celebrities will lend their star power to a telethon organized by George Clooney and hosted by Wyclef Jean called Hope for Haiti, with performances from U2's Bono, Sting, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Alicia Keys. The show will benefit the Red Cross, UNICEF, Oxfam America, Partners in Health and Jean's Yele Haiti Foundation. But you don't have to be a pop star to contribute your creative energies to the cause. Here's a roundup of just a few of the charitable projects underway: - In Los Angeles, 11 galleries will participate in a silent auction put together by "Art for Haiti":http://www.artforhaitila.com/, an impromptu group of 38 emerging and mid-career artists. Art lovers can gather at the Mandrake bar in Culver City on Tuesday evening to peruse pieces by artists such as "Kim McCarty":http://www.kimmccarty.net/ and "James Welling":http://www.mocp.org/collections/permanent/welling_james.php. Bidding for some art works starts at $100 and all proceeds will go to benefit the Red Cross relief efforts. - The "City Winery in Manhattan":http://www.citywinery.com/ will be hosting benefit concerts starting Wednesday and running through the weekend, featuring punk rock goddess Patti Smith and country songstress Rosanne Cash. Monday's show promises a selection of 20 local indie artists. All proceeds will be donated to Doctors Without Borders, Partners in Health and the Jewish Renaissance Medical Center. Music website "Pitchfork":http://pitchfork.com/news/37616-big-boi-ted-leo-mogwai-ac-newman-patti-smith-bun-b-do-haiti-benefits/ has a long list of other indie music benefits throughout the country. - In Washington D.C., the "National Symphony Orchestra":http://www.kennedy-center.org/nso/ will donate proceeds from their Friday, Jan. 22 performance to the Haiti Relief and Development Fund of the American Red Cross. The night will begin with a Haitian-theme performance at 6 p.m. Many other D.C. area venues will be hosting events, "running the gambit from an open mic night to a burlesque and sideshow":http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2010/01/14/black-cat-busboys-poets-will-hold-haiti-benefits/. **Are there notable arts benefits for Haiti that we didn't mention? Leave us information in our comments section.**