My Commitment to Charities

What can I do to help?  Or, more specifically, what can the sale or auctioning of anything I’ve created be able to help?

Over the years, I’ve been more than happy to provide several of my framed photos and artworks to organizations, for which the proceeds can be used for various charitable endeavors.  Just this year, for example, earlier this year two of my artworks – Barn Versus Weeds and Night Train to Heaven – helped raise money for the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” and the “Africa 2 Canada” fundraiser to get basketball player Modibo Diarra and his family out of war-ravaged Mali.

As far as I’m concerned, I give to various charities based on my own personal reasons and beliefs.  I give based on something I learned as a Boy Scout – “Always leave the campsite looking better than when you found it.”  Replace “campsite” with “society” and you understand where my charitable beliefs lie.  I can’t give to every charity, but I can donate to those for whom I have a personal and emotional connection.

And with that, although I declare August and September as my “competition seasons,” I declare October and November as my “compassion seasons.”  So if you want an original Chuck Miller artwork and are willing to help donate for a worthwhile cause…

Here’s what’s available.

On October 11, you have a chance to acquire the artwork Black Starlight, which will be part of the Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society’s “Art Saves Animals” auction at the Arts Center of the Capital Region in Troy. Purchasing Black Starlight will help raise funds to take care of the many animals for whom, without the Humane Society, their futures would be bleak.  This is the same print of Black Starlight that currently hangs at the Altamont Fair.

On October 20, you have a chance to acquire my first “Dream Window” image, The Dream Window of Kenwood Avenue. It will be available for bid at the Damien Center’s “Art for AIDS Sake” auction, at the First Unitarian Universalist Society on 405 Washington Ave in Albany. This was my first “Dream Window” creation, and it will help raise money for an important charitable cause.  This is the same “Dream Window” that currently hangs at the Altamont Fair.

And finally, there will be three artworks available for purchase at the Historic Albany Foundation’s “Built” fundraiser auction on November 3.  You can bid on The Beat of Officer Harris, my second “Dream Window” project (Dream Window 2: The North Pearl Street Limited), or a special print of Midnight at the Palace Theater.  The Beat of Officer Harris is currently hanging at the Altamont Fair; the “Dream Window” has not yet been exhibited; and Midnight at the Palace Theater has been produced in a metallic print edition.

All of these artworks are framed and ready to hang on the wall of your living room or study.  And your purchase will help take care of stray and neglected animals; it will help alleviate the pain of those suffering from AIDS; it will help restore Albany’s historic buildings and keep them from crumbling to the ground.

There might be more Chuck Miller artworks going to charitable functions this year.  But for now, this may be your best opportunity this autumn to get an artwork – and to support local causes of conscience and caring throughout the Capital Region.