“POSITIVELY ART” FUNDRAISER WILL FEATURE WORKS FROM A TV ACTOR, ‘Discarded Art’ Collection and Several Established and Emerging Atlanta Artists

Nov. 2 event at Mason Murer Fine Art will benefit HIV/AIDS prevention, education and care

ATLANTA, GA -October 23, 2006

The 3rd annual Positively Art fundraiser will include dozens of pieces from established and emerging Atlanta artists, a “Sopranos” actor, and from the extensive “discarded art” collection of a cable industry executive. All pieces will be sold to benefit HIV/AIDS prevention, education and care.

Positively Art will be held Thursday, November 2 at Mason Murer Fine Art at 199 Armour Dr. in Midtown, from 6 to 9 p.m. It is staged by the Atlanta Chapter of Cable Positive, the cable and telecommunication industry’s AIDS action organization.

One of the works to be offered via silent auction is a signed, numbered lithograph entitled “Love Always” donated by artist and actor Federico Castelluccio, who played Furio Giunta on HBO’s “The Sopranos”. In addition, several pieces are being donated by Josh Sapan, CEO of Rainbow Media Holdings, which owns cable networks including AMC and WE tv. For years, Sapan has collected art discarded from art schools and other locations on the streets of Manhattan and has amassed hundreds of discarded gems which he displays in a virtual museum.

Among the many local artists contributing works to the event are Pat Drew, Kathy Wolfe, Robert Griffis, Todd Alexander, and Scott Reynolds.

The event also will feature a performance art demonstration by the acrobatic duo KENiMATTix. Matthew Cusick, one half of the duo, is Honorary Chair of the event. Cusick, a gymnast and acrobat who had been hired to perform in the Cirque du Soleil “Mystere” show in Las Vegas, waged a very public battle against discrimination after Cirque terminated his contract because he has HIV. His successful fight forced Cirque to begin anti-discrimination training for its employees and adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward discrimination against those with HIV and other disabilities. It also sent an emphatic message to employers everywhere that discrimination against those with HIV/AIDS will not be tolerated.

Advanced tickets are $40 and can be purchased online (food and drinks included).One hundred percent of proceeds from Positively Art will go to the programs of AID Atlanta, African Children’s Art Project, and Cable Positive.

Cable Positive

The non-profit organization mobilizes the talents, resources, access and influence of the cable and telecom industry in the fight against HIV/AIDS and strives to create a more compassionate climate for people whose lives have been affected by the disease. Its supporters include every major cable network, cable operator, hardware manufacturer, trade association, media publication and affiliated industry vendors.

African Children’s Art Project

Sponsored by Mason Murer Fine Art, the non-profit group partners with Kenyan artists, art centers and orphanages to create and fund art classes for AIDS- and malaria-orphaned and destitute children. It completely funds programs—including meals for the participating youth—that offer art as an outlet for children who have experienced unbelievable tragedy, helping them express through art the complex feelings that may otherwise be difficult to articulate.

AID Atlanta

The non-profit, community-based AIDS services organization serves individuals infected and affected by the AIDS epidemic. Founded in 1982, it is the Southeast’s largest AIDS services organization, sponsoring education programs to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing comprehensive support and services for people living with HIV/AIDS. Since its founding, AID Atlanta has grown to become the leader in the fight against the AIDS epidemic in Atlanta.

Numerous sponsors have signed on to support Positively Art, including WE tv (Women’s Entertainment), Commscope, Motorola, C-Cor, Juniper Networks, Communication Trends, and Hall’s of Fine Wines. To make this event possible, they join the annual premier sponsors of the Atlanta Chapter of Cable Positive: Scientific Atlanta, Fox Cable Networks, MTV Networks, Turner, HBO, The Weather Channel, Comcast, and Cox Communications.