The silent auctions organized by VivArte are fast becoming a philanthropic tradition. VivArte is an annual joint philanthropic effort to empower and transform the lives of the most vulnerable children of Colombia. For the second consecutive year, the non-profit foundations that make up Vivarte—Caring for Colombia, First Step Big Step, and Primero lo Primero—hosted a cocktail and silent auction of contemporary Colombian art to raise funds to benefit programs that support children in need across Colombia.

Monika Bravo

The event was organized by Mercedes Fernández—one of the founders of VivArte—and Mónica Espinel—independent curator and essayist—who was in charge of the selection of the artworks presented for sale. The auction was held at PHILLIPS (450 Park Avenue at 57th Street New York, NY 10022), and featured more than 30 lots by Colombian artists in a variety of media from painting to sculpture, works on paper, embroidery, photography, and animation.

Fernández and Espinel agree that the primary goals of this lofty endeavor are to raise awareness of the situation of Colombian children at risk and ensure that the funds raised go entirely to that cause.

Iván Argote

The organizations involved in the auction have a proven record of involvement in charitable causes. New York based Caring for Colombia has been channeling resources to Colombian organizations for over a decade. Also from New York, First Step Big Step promotes and funds comprehensive early childhood care in underserved Colombian populations, and Primero lo Primero (First Things First) is an alliance dedicated to childhood education that creates national programs and initiatives from the capital, Bogotá.

VivArte’s combination of art and social commitment also creates an opportunity to discover, appreciate and purchase exceptional artworks by of some of the most prestigious artists from Colombia, and help spread the rich culture of that beautiful South American nation.

Johanna Calle

The members of the host committee included Tony Bechara, Celia Sredni de Birbragher, Katherine Boulud, María Eugenia Garcés, Laura González, Nohra Haime, Julian Iragorri, Christophe Janet, Isabelle Kowal, Laura Laurence, Monica Lorduy, Javier Lumbreras, Violy McCausland, Solita Mishaan, Beatriz de la Mora, Christine Murrle, María Isabel Nieto, Rodrigo Niño, Ben Rodríguez Cubeñas, Liana Ryan, Alejandro Santo Domingo, Luz Miriam Toro, León Tovar, Maritza Wild Chateau, and Kingsley Woolworth.

The list of participating artists included Olga de Amaral, Iván Argote, Natalia Arias, Monika Bravo, Johanna Calle, Natalia Castañeda, Jaime Castellanos, Carlos Castro Arias, Fernando Cruz, Adriana Echavarría, Gonzalo Fuenmayor, Jaime Franco, Ana González Rojas, Manuel Hernández, Juan Fernando Herrán, Humberto Junca, Alberto Lezaca, Luz Angela Lizarazo, Adriana Marmorek, Carlos Motta, Jorge Mario Múnera, Edgar Negret, Santiago Parra, Luis Fernando Peláez, Esteban Peña, Ruby Rumie, Luis Alejandro Saiz, Fanny Sanín, Gabriel Silva, Giovanni Vargas, and Hugo Zapata. ■