ArtBLINK: Can Creativity Beat the Clock?

ArtBLINK Gala 2009, held on February 28, was a resounding success, raising more than $855,000 for the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The money raised this year will go toward the Cancer Center's Fund for Excellence, with a percentage dedicated to patient and family assistance efforts.

The event featured the second annual ArtBLINK, where 20 of Alabama's top artists had just 90 minutes to create a masterpiece before it was auctioned. ArtBLINK raised an additional $31,500 for the Cancer Center.

This year's ArtBLINK artists were Nall, Xander Booker, Annie Butrus, Gary Chapman, Chris Clark, Joe DeCamillis, Vicki Denaburg, Randy Gachet, Karen Graffeo, Lila Graves, Bethanne Hill, Darius Hill, Lonnie Holly, Jane Marshall, Fran Nagy, Susan Oliver, Amy Pleasant, John Pleasant, Ricky Trione and Paul Ware.

Contributors of $10,000 and above were Mr. and Mrs. Herman Bolden, Mr. William Schuler, Mr. Richard Adams, Mr. and Mrs. William Spencer III, Mr. and Mrs. Hall Thompson, and Mr. and Mrs. James Todd.

Bronze, silver and patron corporate sponsors were Vazda Studios, Birmingham Magazine, UAB, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, Burr & Forman LLP, Colonial Properties Trust, FOX-6, EBSCO Industries Inc., General Machiner Company Inc., Medical Properties Trust and Susan Schein Automotive.

ArtBLINK 2009 also featured a special masterpiece created by Courteney Cox Arquette and David Arquette, as well as a Gala poster signed by each artist.