Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Fundraiser was held at Harrah’s Casino and Resort in Kansas City amongst an upscale crowd along with celebrities such as golfer John Daly, and legendary country singer Trish Yearwood, and of course, Garth Brooks. After cocktails and dinner, Michel Israel took the stage and performed three paintings, a portrait of John Daily, one of Trish Yearwood, who would perform later that night in Harrah’s theater, and a fantastic portrait of Garth Brooks. Together with a matching donation, Michael’s artworks raised $400,000 that night!
Before his performance, Michael Israel met Garth Brooks backstage. It was incredible! Garth, a seven-time CMA/ACM Entertainer of the Year, really loves kids and the people everywhere, as does Michael, who has a kind heart and passion for life. After the meeting, Michael took his performance to a whole new level. Performing to some of Garth’s biggest hits. The outpouring of love for the kids, the country music star, and for Michael’s painting was extraordinary. Michael performed to Garth Brooks’s portrait to “Friends in Low Places; it sold for $50,000!
The Fundraiser
The event, the Annual Teammates for Kids, is a signature fundraiser for Teammates for Kids, which raises funds for local children and families in need throughout the Kansas City metro area. Since 1998, Teammates for Kids has provided 4,288 in-need children and families with basic needs, including clothing, meals, car repairs, and rent assistance. Teammates for Kids has grown to become a national non-profit organization that has helped countless families over the years. Teammates for Kids has served more than 5 million people in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, with $216 million raised. Teammates for Kids has impacted more than 1.5 million children directly and helped more than 2 million through community partnerships. View original content with multimedia:http://var/web/site/public_html.prnewswire.
Wherever I’m doing a benefit show, I make myself available to do media interviews to help promote the charity and the event.
This was a great interview with Keenan Sanders on Goodmorning Wyoming KTWO for United Way of Natrona County’s Cinco De Michael at the fairgrounds Industrial building. It SOLD OUT and was a super fun night and a successful fundraiser.
I was pretty self-conscious when they wanted to call the event Cinco De “Michael.” But, I am proud that my artwork had raised over a quarter million dollars at two previous events, and helped them gain new sponsors.
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who attended our Paint Barefoot on the Beach Concert Event this past Saturday! Thank you to the sponsors and donors! Thank you for the 65 sales in support of Spectrum Parents Events.
A big thank you to the top art bidders —Coach Pete; congrats on adding 3 new pieces to your massive collection! I know you will enjoy the “SEA 3D” when visitors view the 3D effect and Ooow and Awe! Thank you, Mary H; I can’t wait to hear how people comment on your Lennon portrait when you have it displayed on its unique floating mount!
Thank you, Frances O, for purchasing Liberty, Face the Flames, and Superboy and all your support of Spectrum Parents Events! Thank you, Sara C! I know you will enjoy your Heart & Hands, Superboy, and Face the Flames mixed media original works! Thank You, Elizabeth M; your Liberty artwork is spectacular —Please send us a photo of you next to it when you hang it!
Thank you, Dawn H, and welcome to being one of my newest collectors, along with a shout-out to Rhianon G too! Thank you to everyone who attended, and thank you to all of my wonderful collectors who have supported my work over the years, making charity benefit shows possible. Together we’ve helped many children and families and have a lot more to do!
MICHAEL ISRAEL, THE FUTURE OF ART
We have seen the future of art, and his name is Michael Israel. Equal parts Jackson Pollock, Peter Max and Michael Flatley, Lord of the Dance, the Florida artist was in the news recently when he was commissioned to paint a portrait of super-investor Warren Buffet at his Omaha, Neb., home base last Saturday. The completed likeness is to be sold on eBay this fall as a fundraiser for Girls, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to building self-esteem in young women.
The long-haired, model-handsome Israel works on stage live in front of large, spinning canvases, either painting with his hands or with paintbrushes in both hands, often shirtless, usually accompanied by rock music. His paintings are most often celebrity portraits. An impressive film clip on his website shows him performing in front of screaming crowds, accompanied by exploding confetti bombs and a chorus line of cheerleaders.
So, who is this guy? A long manifesto on his website places him in the lineage of Edouard Manet, Mark Rothko and other artists who redefined the paradigm of what art is. “Is it a performance? Is he a painter in the artistic sense? Is it a concert? A social commentary? An experience? The answers are all emphatically yes, yes, yes, yes and yes.” The website does, however, add sternly that “while our First Amendment guarantees us the right to make any statement we wish, Michael believes that such freedom comes with the moral obligation to use it for good purpose and not sensationalism and vulgarity for the sake of profit and greed.”
For the Buffet event, several dozen shareholders watched Israel perform at a stage outside Omaha’s Qwest Center. According to the Omaha World-Herald, which also has some great pics of the “live painting” event, Israel started his portrait with the images of a dollar sign and a heart, then conjured Buffet’s face as strobe lights flashed and music by U2 blared. This guy is going to be huge.
