Just-Us League, has teamed up with the Hamilton-Smith Organization and the Japan-American Society of North Texas to announce an art auction fundraiser expected to double their primary goal of $10,000 for disaster relief efforts to our sister city of Sendai, Japan. The event “Flood of Emotions-Artists Healing Japan ” began as a away for local artists to help out in the way they know how, by expressing themselves. Within days of conception, the list of donating artists, musicians, poets, and services exceeded 100. Now the event has expanded to over 200 pieces of original art and auction items. Artists as far as New York City have donated their original art works to be auctioned. One of the most touching contributions is that of Manasha Garcia, who is donating three etchings by Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, along with a work of her own and a print by their daughter Keelin Garcia.

On April 9th, hundreds of people will gather together to either donate or purchase pieces of original art to raise an anticipated tens-of thousands of dollars of which 100% will go directly to aid relief efforts to help Japan heal.

Sendai and Dallas have been International Friendship Cities and part of the Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth since 1997. From the time when the alliance formed, the cities have shared cultures and experiences through exchange programs. Now, as Japan tries to recover from the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis, much concern has risen for Dallas’s Sister City. The Hamilton-Smith Organization and Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth Sendai Relief Fund are organizations helping ensure the donations will go directly to relief efforts in Sendai.

About The Just-Us League – We are non-profit collective of Dallas based artists that perform vast collaborative paintings for LIVE audiences every month. At the end of 2011 these collaborative pieces will be sold and proceeds will go to HAL Helping Artists Live . The Just-Us League believes art has the power to effect culture and impel action for social change through creating art.

Hamilton Smith Foundation – (formerly Nick Smith Foundation) was founded on the belief that all people deserve the best quality of life and together we can create a synergistic relationship to support our communities. One earth, one people.

The Japan-America Society of North Texas – The mission of the Japan-American Society of North Texas is to contribute to mutual understanding between the United States and Japan by educating the Dallas/Fort Worth community about Japan and the U.S.-Japan relationship; providing opportunities for friendship and meaningful interaction between Japanese and Americans; and providing a forum for dialogue between Japanese and American businesses and professionals.