Now more than ever, the news cycle moves at an intense and unforgiving pace—and in the process, often leaves the stories it covers behind.
That is especially the case with the tragic Aug. 4 explosion in Beirut that killed 200, injured thousands and displaced some 300,000 more.
Now, Beirut Editions—a new project by Lebanese designer and art director Tala Safié, filmmaker and former Beirut resident Noel Paul in collaboration with Partner & Partners, and writer and editor Perrin Drumm—is seeking to help the hundreds of thousands still reeling from the crisis.
As they write, “At a time when everyone feels overwhelmed and helpless to enact real change, Beirut Editions is making it easy to have a direct impact on those who need help the most.”
A massive cadre of artists and designers have come together and offered up limited-edition prints for the project, with 100% of the profits going to a trio of hyperlocal NGOs.
As the team breaks it down:
Haven For Artists, run by Dayna Ash, is an NGO whose ongoing work in the art community has been mobilized to provide immediate aid to those most affected by the Beirut blast. In particular, they focus on groups such as LGBTQ individuals who lack family support, as well as single mothers, the elderly and the infirm. Haven's work on the ground includes providing shelter, hot meals, hygiene kits, urgent repairs of windows and doors, rent assistance, direct cash, micro grants, and basic home furnishings. To find out more about their amazing work, please check out their instagram @havenforartists.
Egna Legna Besidet and Anti-Racist Movement (ARM) are both non-religious, non-political, community-based, female-led NGOs whose mission is to help migrant domestic workers in Lebanon. Under the Kafala system, domestic workers are often exploited by their sponsors, the families who employ them. The destruction of the Aug. 4 explosion exacerbated the problems of Lebanon’s ongoing economic collapse: Thousands of domestic workers have been abandoned by their sponsoring families, making them essentially refugees.
As for the participating artists, they’re a powerhouse of creativity: Amber Vittoria, Sarah Mazzetti, Derek Abella, Mohamad Abdouni, Molly Fairhurst, Joseph Kai, Ayla Hibri, Michèle Aoun, Myriam Boulos, Erik Brandt, Erik Carter, Matt Willey, Sophi Gullbrants, Studio Safar, Jordy van den Nieuwendijk, Mark Pernice, Sally Thurer, Nadine Redlich, Iman Raad, Kristyan Sarkis, Ping Zhu, Christoph Niemann, Jon Burgerman, Nichole Shinn, Robert Blair, Kurt Woerpel, Raphaelle Macaron, Daniel Zender, Vinnie Neuberg, Thomas Colligan, Rose Wong, Bráulio Amado, Lennard Kok, Wael Morcos, Cody Hoyt, Cari Van Der Yacht, Super Freak (Dan Whitehouse),Grace Miceli, Armando Veve, Astrid Terrazas, Julia Rothman, Mazen Kerbaj, Elana Schlenker, Najeebah Al-Ghadban, Tracy Ma, Gabrielle Lamontagne, Mona Chalabi, Elaine Lopez, and Julian Glander.
Booklyn is hosting the sale, and printing, meanwhile, is being donated by Elaine Lopez, Powerhouse Arts, TXTbooks, Lucky Risograph, Secret Riso Club, EFA Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop, and Endless Editions/Fully Booked.
To learn more about the initiative—and to pick up a print to support Beirut—click here. The campaign runs through Nov. 30.
Here are a few of the many prints available.
