Aljira Center for Contemporary Art 2017 Benefit & Auction

Aljira, a Center for Contemporary Art is pleased to announce its 2017 Benefit & Auction, Downtown83: Artists Owning the Future, which will take place on Saturday May 6, 2017, from 6 – 9 PM. Aljira is a nonprofit organization located in Newark’s Downtown Arts District.

“Downtown83 acknowledges the lasting cultural impact of the 1980’s, the decade of Aljira’s founding, and serves as a tribute to artists and business leaders working together to build and re-imagine the urban landscape,” says Aljira’s recently appointed Executive Director, Dexter Wimberly. “As rapid change takes place in downtown Newark, Aljira is excited to present Downtown83, a celebration of activism, altruism, and art.”

At Downtown83, Aljira will honor longtime supporter James P. Hughes of Merrill Lynch with the Dreamtime Award for Philanthropy, and groundbreaking visual artist, Saya Woolfalk with the Dreamtime Award for Artistry.

Downtown83 coincides with Aljira’s benefit auction on Paddle8, featuring artwork by over 30 emerging and established contemporary artists. Participating artists include ruby amanze, Firelei Báez, Sanford Biggers, Pieter Hugo, Andrew Lyght, Alex Prager, Mickalene Thomas, and Saya Woolfalk, among others.
The auction will begin on April 28 at 12pm, and can be accessed at www.paddle8.com/auction/aljira. The auction will close on May 12. This exceptional selection of artworks in various media—paintings, photographs, drawings, prints, and sculpture—has been generously donated by artists and collectors to benefit Aljira.