Proceeds from a silent auction in late 2011 to benefit relief efforts in Joplin, Mo. have been donated to the southern Missouri region of the American Red Cross. The silent auction raised $1,129 to support rebuilding efforts in the city after the devastating May 22 tornado. Chris Harmon, the region’s chief emergency services officer, received the donation.
“This donation really speaks to us about the compassion of our community, and in such a unique and creative way.” Harmon says.
Nine art and design faculty members — Iwona Duszek, Roman Duszek, Judith Fowler, Jacek Fraczak, Kevin Hughes, Marcus Howell, Maria Michalczyk, Cedomir Kostovic, and Eric Pervukhin — donated 24 pieces for an auction hosted by the Paw Prints Bookstore in the Plaster Student Union. Bidding began in late November and winning bids were announced at “A Dickensian Christmas,” a special event hosted by the English Society on Dec. 5 with help from the theatre and dance and music departments. The event included period costumes, readings from Charles Dickens’s famous work A Christmas Carol, and musical performances. In promoting the event, English Society students and their faculty co-sponsors, Dr. James S. Baumlin and Dr. Lanette Cadle, also generated publicity for the auction.
“I was proud of the way that our students pitched in,” Baumlin, professor of english, says. “It was truly a college-wide collaboration: students and faculty in music, art and design, theatre and dance, as well as in english gave of their time and talent.”
“I offer humble thanks to my colleagues for their generosity in donating art,” Jacek Fraczak, assistant professor of art and design, says. Visiting Joplin as a photographer, Professor Fraczak “was stunned by the extent of the destruction,” which inspired him to organize the art auction.
“In my native Poland,” Fraczak notes, “we have experienced devastations of war, but never have I seen such a force of nature. The tornado taught me not just the power of nature, but the power of the American spirit in helping and rebuilding.” His photographs of conditions in Joplin after the tornado comprised an entire wall of his exhibition, “Midwest Habitat,” which chronicles the lives of people in the Midwest through the places where they live. Fraczak exhibited “Midwest Habitat” in Poland, including the cities of Warsaw and Bialystok, and also displayed portions of the exhibit at the Capitol Building in Jefferson City. He has revisited Joplin to chronicle the rebuilding efforts.
“My colleague, Professor Fraczak, was one of the first professional photographers allowed in town to record the devastation, and his photographs have been on public display in Jefferson City,” Baumlin says. “Fraczak has since revisited Joplin and is preparing a photographic history of the rebuilding. The Missouri State English Department will continue to collaborate with him in relief efforts, and I hope that we have the chance to publish his Joplin photography in book form.”
With rebuilding efforts continuing, the need for further Joplin relief remains. The University’s Joplin Relief blog contains donation links for organizations actively assisting in relief efforts and lists volunteer and donation opportunities. Several upcoming Bears and Lady Bears basketball games will feature bucket donations for Joplin relief.
Read more about contributions to Joplin relief efforts in the Fall 2011 issue of Expressions.
