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Michael Israel’s Speedpainting at Armory Art Center

Michael Israel’s Speedpainting at Armory Art Center

by | Apr 26, 2024 | Charity, FB

A Brief History of the Armory

When the Norton Museum closed its art school in 1986, a dedicated group of artists, art teachers, and community activists formed the Armory Art Center to ensure the continuation of practical art instruction in Palm Beach County. In seeking a new home for the art school, they looked to the neglected Armory building constructed in 1939 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in an Art Deco style and designed by William Manley King. The building was a National Guard Armory from 1939 to 1982. By the late 1980s, after a period of multiple community uses, including high school dances, the building was scheduled for demolition when the art activists and the Palm Beach County Cultural Council came together to convince the City of West Palm Beach to spare the building from demolition and allow it to be transformed into an art center.

The Armory Art Center was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization on November 21, 1986, after the art group renovated the abandoned Art Deco structure into a vibrant space for art classes and art exhibitions. The center opened its doors to the public in July 1987 as a result of generous contributions from its many supporters, most notably Robert and Mary Montgomery and the Historic Preservation and Cultural Facilities Grants of the State of Florida. In 1992 the Armory was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Over the past three decades, the Armory has taught art classes to thousands of emerging artists of all ages and cultures, exhibited art in hundreds of shows, given workshops taught by national and international visiting master artists, provided summer art camp for thousands of young people, and since the year 2000 has yearly given new artists-in-residence from around the United States and abroad the opportunity to hone their craft while teaching classes. The Armory looks to a long future of enhancing artistic life in the Palm Beaches.

Learn more about the history of the Armory

 

PAST | Armory Art Center #michaelisrael #speedpainting #speedpainter

Michael Israel: America’s Original Live-Action Artist Helping Charities Raise Millions

Michael Israel: America’s Original Live-Action Artist Helping Charities Raise Millions

by | Apr 26, 2024 | Charity, FB, Press

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Michael Israel helps charities raise millions!

$250,000! Going once…

 

Michael Israel

Was there ever a time when you attended a fundraiser so extraordinary that you would remember it for the rest of your life?

$250,000! Going twice!

So exhilarating that the entire room jumped from their seats, shouted, and gasped out loud? Then you found yourself emotionally charged and in a bidding war with others offering insane money for an artwork painted right in front of your eyes?

Sold for $250,000!

Charities must attract, engage, and energize the top 2% of their communities to survive. Michael Israel, America’s original live-action artist, makes it easy.

Described as ‘Cirque du Soleil meets Picasso”, Michael Israel paints larger-than-life canvasses with iconic images in rhythm to high-energy music live on-stage.

He has a worldwide fan base of 100 million people. His Hero video has garnered over 14 million views on YouTube. Michael has performed for Presidential and Olympic events, fortune 500 companies, and was the featured artist for a $158.2 million renovation celebration for the DIA, which is America’s sixth-largest museum. He has shared stages with such luminaries as Warren Buffett, Garth Brooks, Clarence Clemons, Bruce Springsteen, Jay Leno, Tony Robbins, Brooks and Dunn, the Temptations, Kevin Costner, Kevin Bacon, and more. More importantly, he has helped over 100 charities. His portrait of Warren Buffett sold for $100,000 to benefit Girls Inc of Omaha.

Companies and casinos pay large fees for Michael’s performances, but when he does a benefit show for a charity, he does not charge a performance fee. His shows and art have raised millions of dollars. His philanthropic vision spills over into a bottom-line driven focus to help charities. His team also helps charities secure sponsorships, positive media, and ticket sales in addition to proceeds from his show and art sales.

Guests of Beaux-Arts were awestruck by Michael during their signature fundraiser, Up on the Rooftop at the Museum of Art Ft. Lauderdale. Sponsorship and ticket sales for an encore the following year reached record levels.

For a gala for the United Way of Chester County, Pennsylvania, they had planned an admission fee of $250 per couple, but with Michael as the featured artist, the seats sold out at $1,000 a couple. Michael’s paintings also sold out; the first one sold for $55,000.

Executive VP Chris Saello said, “Best event ever! Michael is a game-changer for us, he’s energized our organization!” Before leaving that evening, sponsors promised large donations if they could get Michael back for a repeat performance.

Sherrye McBryde, Director, The Susan G. Komen, Arkansas – “His ability to translate the true meaning of our organization onto canvas was amazing. He made the crowd go crazy. He drove fundraising dollars higher than ever before!”

Michael has appointed a charity committee to award a limited number of benefit performances each year.

To learn more CONTACT US

Michael Israel’s Art Raises $400,000 for Teammates for Kids Fundraiser at Harrah’s Casino and Resort in Kansas City

“Recap of Paint Barefoot on the Beach Concert Event – Thank You to Sponsors and Top Art Bidders in Support of Spectrum Parents Events”

“Recap of Paint Barefoot on the Beach Concert Event – Thank You to Sponsors and Top Art Bidders in Support of Spectrum Parents Events”

by | Apr 26, 2024 | Charity, FB

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who attended our Paint Barefoot on the Beach Concert Event this past Saturday! Thank you to the sponsors and donors! Thank you for the 65 sales in support of Spectrum Parents Events.

A big thank you to the top art bidders —Coach Pete; congrats on adding 3 new pieces to your massive collection! I know you will enjoy the “SEA 3D” when visitors view the 3D effect and Ooow and Awe! Thank you, Mary H; I can’t wait to hear how people comment on your Lennon portrait when you have it displayed on its unique floating mount!

Thank you, Frances O, for purchasing Liberty, Face the Flames, and Superboy and all your support of Spectrum Parents Events! Thank you, Sara C! I know you will enjoy your Heart & Hands, Superboy, and Face the Flames mixed media original works! Thank You, Elizabeth M; your Liberty artwork is spectacular —Please send us a photo of you next to it when you hang it!

Thank you, Dawn H, and welcome to being one of my newest collectors, along with a shout-out to Rhianon G too! Thank you to everyone who attended, and thank you to all of my wonderful collectors who have supported my work over the years, making charity benefit shows possible. Together we’ve helped many children and families and have a lot more to do!

TV interview for Cinco De Michael for United Way of Natrona County

TV interview for Cinco De Michael for United Way of Natrona County

by | Apr 25, 2024 | Charity, FB

 
Wherever I’m doing a benefit show, I make myself available to do media interviews to help promote the charity and the event.
 
This was a great interview with Keenan Sanders on Goodmorning Wyoming KTWO for United Way of Natrona County’s Cinco De Michael at the fairgrounds Industrial building. It SOLD OUT and was a super fun night and a successful fundraiser.
 
I was pretty self-conscious when they wanted to call the event Cinco De “Michael.” But, I am proud that my artwork had raised over a quarter million dollars at two previous events, and helped them gain new sponsors.
 
 

Speed Painter Michael Israel Supports St. Vincent’s Healthcare Foundation

Speed Painter Michael Israel Supports St. Vincent’s Healthcare Foundation

by | Apr 25, 2024 | Charity, FB, Health

$105,000 ART AUCTION!

Michael WOWED and AMAZED a crowd of 1000 healthcare professionals and supporters during his performance at the beautiful Omni Hotel for St. Vincent’s Healthcare Foundation.

Ascension St. Vincent’s Foundation is a not-for-profit, philanthropic organization established in 1982 that is committed to enhancing the current and future healthcare needs of Jacksonville and the surrounding area.

Since its inception, the Foundation has provided more than $1 million in annual financial assistance to support the Mission of Ascension St. Vincent’s. Serving as a liaison between Ascension St. Vincent’s and our family of generous donors, the Foundation is rooted in the loving ministry of Jesus as a healer and devoted to putting our commitment to philanthropy into action. The Foundation supports Ascension St. Vincent’s: Community Outreach Ministries, capital building, and equipment needs.

The St. Vincent’s HealthCare Foundation is the entity that financially supports the mission of Jacksonville’s province of Daughters of Charity. The foundation and network, established in 1982, is dedicated to improving the present and future healthcare needs of the Jacksonville area, and has provided more than $1 million in support every year since its creation.[3]

The foundation stages fund-raising events throughout the year, including the Red Rose Ball, begun in 1982 and Jacksonville’s oldest charity ball. The 2008 event was attended by John Travolta and Kelly Preston, who helped collect over $1 million in donations.[4]

John Ash was the celebrity chef at the 10th annual Delicious Destinations event in 2011. The three-day event attracts over a dozen executive chefs from notable restaurants and resorts around the country to prepare their favorite dishes for donors at the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club.[5][6]

St. Vincent’s HealthCare Foundation is also a charity recipient of proceeds from The Players Championship, and conducts a two-day charity golf tournament early in the week known as The Tradition.[7]

#speedpainting #michaelisrael #speedpainter

“Performing in the Dark: How a Flashlight Show Earned $110,000 for Education”

“Performing in the Dark: How a Flashlight Show Earned $110,000 for Education”

by | Apr 25, 2024 | Charity, FB

Well, I’ve always said my show is the real deal and would work in a field on the top of a milk crate with two boy scouts holding flashlights… I never thought I’d have to prove it but, a while back, I was performing in a clear tent for about 100 people on a very eclectic ranch with a donkey, chickens, and other animals…LOL!

Just as I was about to go to the stage, all the fancy programmed show lighting glitched out. It was pitch black!

My show manager literally put two flashlights on the stage… and we rocked the house or should I say tent. After the show, my art sold for $110,000 to benefit the Glendora Educational Foundation!