"The numbers are in, and when all is said and done, we topped our fundraising goal of $25,000. So besides being a lot of fun, we did a really good thing. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU!"
~ Deb and Jeff Lewis, co-chairs, David's Parade
Click here to see event photos
Video Clips of the Event
Provided by Wayne Griffiths:
Click Here to View Fox 21 News Coverage
Click Here for Video of the Art Parade
Click Here for Video of the Art Auction
Click Here for Video of David Genszler Benefit Song
Click Here for Video of Tent, Food & Music
Click Here for More of Wayne's Videos
Provided by Andy Ogens:
Hand-Made Bracelets Among Art Enjoyed at Benefit
ASHLAND, Wis. -- Grace Genszler, second to right, and friends spent days making artistic bracelets for those attending her father's benefit on Saturday, Aug. 29 in Ashland. The benefit, Join the Parade, will kick off with a 4:30 p.m. art parade beginning at the Bretting Community Center in Ashland and winding its way down Third Street to Chapple Avenue to the Black Cat where the benefit will be held from 5-10 p.m. The celebratory atmosphere includes a dinner of salads and breads, dessert auction, art auction, and an evening of music, all in the name of raising more than $25,000 for David, wife Elizabeth and 13-year-old daughter Grace. Not able to be there but still want to offer support? No problem. Donations can be sent to the David Genszler Benefit Account at Northern State Bank, Post Office Box 617, Ashland, WI, 54806.
Publicity Leading Up to the Benefit...
Click here for Daily Press article
Colorful Parade & Fundraiser for Ashland Artist Who Needs Your Help
The benefit, Join the Parade, will kick off with a 4:30 p.m. art parade beginning at the Bretting Community Center in Ashland and winding its way down Third Street to Chapple Avenue to the Black Cat where the benefit will be held from 5-10 p.m. The celebratory atmosphere includes a dinner of salads and breads, dessert auction, art auction, and an evening of music, all in the name of raising more than $25,000 for David, wife Elizabeth and 13-year-old daughter Grace.
The public is invited to make colorful streamers, masks, flags, drums, and an assortment of whimsical creations for the art parade. Two work days have been scheduled at the Bretting Community Center concessions building (behind the Center) on Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Drop in for an hour or stay the day. Then Join the Parade on Saturday, August 29! Those unable to attend are encouraged to send their donation to Northern State Bank, PO Box 617, Ashland WI 54806.
This fundraiser will be a FUN event and is a shining example of community. For more information, visit www.davidsparade.com or contact Jeff and Deb Lewis at 715-682-5686.To learn more David, please visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/davidgenszler/journal.
Community Invited to Make Art for David's Parade Art studio time will be offered in preparation for the August 29 Benefit for David Genszler. The two work days will be at the Bretting Community Center concessions building (behind the Center) on Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Drop in for an hour or stay the day. Children under age 10 should be accompanied by an adult. Materials, such as paints, streamers and styrofoam, will be provided. Bring your own found objects to personalize your artwork, acrylic paints, and your creativity. Artists will be on hand to help you realize your vision. Your level of participation is up to you. Even if you can’t march in the event, you can still make artwork for the parade. Extra art pieces will be available for those who are unable to make it to the studio workshop dates. Or bring your own artwork, costumes, musical instruments and noisemakers to the parade. David’s Parade is part of the Benefit for David Genszler. The parade will assemble Saturday, August 29, 4:00 p.m., with a 4:30 start time, at the Bretting Center concessions building. For additional information, call Bob @ 682-9947 or Joni @ 685-0076.
Sculptor Needs Your Help
by John B. Torinus Jr.
WEST BEND, Wis. —David Genszler, the sculptor who crafted “Tableau in Steel” in Regner Park in 1992, needs some help.
The Ashland, Wisconsin artist took a bad fall at his home in April, and he is fighting for his life. He suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury and is paralyzed from the neck down, but is determined to make a come-back.
His friends are organizing a fund-raising parade Saturday Aug. 29 in Ashland and hope to raise $25,000 to help his family with the expenses of his struggle. They call it a “big-fun-social-fundraising-life-sculpture event.” It starts at 4:30 p.m.
“Tableau” was the first piece in West Bend’s Sculpture Collection that now totals 27 pieces. It is a silhouette that was flame cut from two-inch plate steel. Genszler used local models for the figures in the piece, even the dog.
Known for his red suspenders and loud laugh, he wanted his pieces to be community-based and fun. He also did a temporary work, called an installation, at the Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend several years later.
Genszler is at the Polinsky Rehabilitation Clinic in Duluth.
Donations can be sent to the David Genszler Benefit Account at Northern State Bank, Post Office Box 617, Ashland, WI, 54806. More information on the parade can be found at www.davidsparade.com.
West Bend Friends of Sculpture will be making a donation.
Music, Art, Auction & Fun Highlight the Event
by Leslie Hamp
ASHLAND, Wis. — Area musicians and artists will showcase their talents at the August 29 benefit for David Genszler, a local artist who suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury at his home in Ashland on April 23, 2009 and is currently at the Polinsky Rehab at Miller Dwan Hospital in Duluth.
The benefit, Join the Parade, will kick off with a 4:30 p.m. art parade beginning at the Bretting Community Center in Ashland and winding its way down Third Street to Chapple Avenue to the Black Cat where the benefit will be held from 5-10 p.m.
The celebratory atmosphere will be punctuated with a dinner of salads and breads, dessert auction, art auction, and an evening of music, all in the name of raising more than $25,000 for David, wife Elizabeth and 13-year-old daughter Grace.
The evening will feature a range of musicians including Chris Hulmer and Bay Land Dixie Band, Liesel Wilson, St. Esprit Woodwinds (Bettie Braunstein and Joel Glickman), Bentley Brehm, Nori Perrine, Andy Noyes and Floydian Slip.
“This is such a shining example of community,” said Deb and Jeff Lewis, co-chairs of the event. “So many people have stepped forward and are helping in amazing ways. Others continue to ask how they can get involved, and there are many ways. In addition to financial support, we are looking for donations for the raffle and auction, donations of food and signature desserts, and volunteers to help with the art parade.
“Anyone interested in getting involved can call us at 715-682-5686 or email jeffdeblewis@charter.net, and anyone interested in donating immediately can send their donation to Northern State Bank.”
Checks should be written to David Genszler Benefit Account and dropped off at any Northern State Bank location (Ashland, Washburn, Mellen, Glidden, and Butternut) or mailed to NSB, PO Box 617, Ashland WI 54806.
The Superior Shores Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Caring Abounds in Communities Program is providing generous matching support for funds raised during the Genszler Benefit.
All donors will be recognized publicly the night of the benefit, online at www.davidsparade.com and in an ad following the event.
For more information on the Genszler benefit, please visit www.davidsparade.com. To follow David’s progress, please visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/davidgenszler.
Join the Parade… Genszler Benefit Slated for August 29
by Leslie Hamp
ASHLAND, Wis. — Mark your calendars and Join the Parade, a fundraising benefit for artist David Genszler. The big-fun-social-fundraising-life-sculpture event on Saturday, August 29, from 4:30-10 p.m. in Ashland.
It'll be easy to find. You'll see big, blue and yellow
tents located behind the Black Cat Coffeehouse and Chequamegon Co-Op at
211-215 Chapple Avenue. You'll hear music. You'll smell the aroma of breads
and decadently delicious desserts wafting from the tent.
And you'll see art. Lots of art. Art that is being auctioned off
to assist with the medical expenses resulting from an accident that left
Genszler paralyzed from the neck down.
Area residents have come together in a parade of support for the
artist who, during the 30 years he’s lived in Ashland, managed to pull
thousands of kids and adults together for the creation and unveiling of art
parades, sculptures, murals, night installations, and more. His
medium: Mylar plastics, steel rods, Styrofoam, ice, snow, light,
water and people.
“I started getting the community involved in my work because I
wanted to do big stuff and I couldn't afford to hire people to help me,"
he said.
Genszler’s modus operandi: develop a theme, collect materials,
create colorful and whimsical pieces, assemble and inspire eager volunteers and
participants, unveil to the laughter and delight of all.
It’s been a magic formula for success.
Since 1979, thousands of Northlanders have joined Genszler’s
temporary installations including 100 area residents who became a kinetic,
dancing sculpture in “Nightsticks, A Light Opera,” at Mount Ashwabay. Or the
1,000 spectators who showed up in frigid temps to see the opening of
“IceBlink,” a sculpture of dozens of eight-foot-tall ice pyramids forming a small
village on the snowy flats of Chequamegon Bay. Or the hundreds who came out to
see “Waterborne,” a sculpture featuring dozens of brightly-painted, inflated
plastic tubes pointing out of Lake Superior’s Chequamegon Bay in Ashland.
In 1996 Genszler became a stay-at-home dad. During this time he
began working on large, regional community art projects including the Bay Day's
art parade, Northland College art parade, Lake Superior Elementary Schools art
parades, Book Across the Bay SnowFort, and murals in the public schools and
youth center.
Genszler said his art, created for the enjoyment of young and
old, was always meant to be joyful and fun for participants and spectators
alike. He said working with adults and kids is immensely rewarding and that he delighted
in showing enthusiastic elementary students how to bring art to life
for end-of-the-year parades.
Genszler said he’d include absolutely every child to help during
the six or seven weeks of preparation. Come parade day, nearly 1600 people
including 850 elementary school kids, parents, teachers, high school band
members, local musicians, college professors and anyone else who was game,
strutted around the school grounds, all carrying art work or playing an
instrument.
Now the man who has given so much to his regional community is
getting a parade of his own. Join the Parade, the August 29 benefit for
Genszler, is an opportunity for area residents to offer financial support to
David, wife Elizabeth and 13-year-old daughter Grace.
“The financial challenge facing the Genszlers is great, and a
parade of people have come forward asking how they can help,” said Jeff
and Deb Lewis, co-chairs of the fundraiser. “This event provides an
opportunity for action. We are striving to raise more than $25,000 from this
one event alone. Anyone interested in getting involved can email us at jeffdeblewis@charter.net, and anyone
interested in donating immediately can send their donation to Northern State
Bank.”
Checks should be written to David Genszler Benefit Account and dropped off at any Northern State Bank location (Ashland, Washburn, Mellen, Glidden, and Butternut) or mailed to NSB, PO Box 617, Ashland WI 54806.
The Superior Shores Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Caring Abounds in Communities Program is providing generous matching support for funds raised during David's Parade. Local members are providing volunteer support to the fundraiser, too.
Highlights of Join the Parade include an art auction featuring some
of David’s work, a plethora of salads and breads, dessert auction, art parade,
music, and slide show of David’s art.
For more info and to Join the Parade, please visit www.davidsparade.com
Photo Caption: In 1999, artist David Genszler orchestrated the St. Esprit Revelry art parade for Bay Days. Now a parade of supporters are organizing a fundraising benefit to assist with the medical expenses resulting from an accident that left Genszler paralyzed from the neck down. The fundraising event, Join the Parade, takes place on Saturday, August 29, from 4:30-10 p.m. in Ashland. Spread the word and help us raise $25,000! Photo by Amy Kalmon
The video that I shot at David's Parade and Benefit Auction is viewable at:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ogens#
or just do a YouTube search for David Genszler.
They are titled "David's Parade and Benefit Auction #1-#7
-Andy Ogens
Posted by: Andy Ogens | 09/08/2009 at 10:22 AM