Local artists and teachers from Artascope Studios will be donating their handmade items to benefit the Community Crisis Ministries Fund of South Portland and Cape Elizabeth. "Gathering donations of unique handmade work from local artists is an effective way for us to give back to our community" said Suzanne Kiertianis, Manager of Artascope Studios on Cottage Road in South Portland. "We began collecting donations last month and have already received over $1200 in donations." Items include paintings, handbags, silver jewelry, placemats, gift certificates, batik, fiber arts and more.

The public can see the items available for bidding at Artascope Studios which is located on 352 Cottage Road in South Portland starting on November 12th. According to Kiertianis "This is a very creative way for people to come together and lend a hand in their own neighborhood." 100% of the funds generated from the auction will go toward helping members of the community pay for basic needs such as housing, food, health care, and clothing. Anyone wishing to donate an item can contact Artascope Studios by telephone at 207-799-5154 or by email at suzannek@artascope.com.

The auction items will also be shown during Artascope Studio's Third Annual Holiday Sale which runs from Friday, December 12th through Wednesday December 24th. All funds raised will benefit the Community Crisis Ministries Fund (CCMF) of South Portland and Cape Elizabeth administered by the First Congregational Church on Cottage Road. This is the third year in a row that Artascope Studios has organized a fund raising effort to benefit the Community Crisis Ministries Fund. The fund was started in 1999 with an anonymous donation and a stipulation that all the money be given to individuals not charities. Over the past eight years more than 900 families have received assistance from the find. In 2007 more than $83,000 was given to over 150 families.

Artascope Studios is a full service art education studio with classes for individuals and groups in many media including stained glass, metalsmithing, mosaics, fiber arts, decorative painting, wire-worked and beaded jewelry, dye and batik, book and paper arts, collage, fine art painting, and printmaking. No experience is necessary and studio tours are offered daily from 9am to 7pm. For more information about our Silent Auction and/or our Annual Holiday Show and Sale, please contact Suzanne Kiertianis at 799-5154.

CONTACT
Suzanne Kiertianis, Manager
suzannek@artascope.com

Artascope Studios
352 Cottage Road
South Portland, Maine 04106
www.artascope.com