An auction featuring artwork from David Byrne, Joan Baez, and signed memorabilia from Ringo Starr and Def Leppard’s Rick Allen is now open, and it is raising money for a cause worth following. The second annual “Turn It Up!” online sale supports Housing Works, a New York City charity working to ensure people living with HIV/AIDS have access to quality housing, healthcare, HIV prevention, and treatment.
The lots are packed with contributions from across the music industry. Matt Berninger of the National offered a baseball decorated with handwritten lyrics and decorations. Ani DiFranco signed a print, and Richard Hell donated a vintage concert poster for a Patti Smith and Television appearance at Max’s Kansas City. Kevin Barnes of Of Montreal and Foxy Shazam’s Eric Nally each contributed art pieces. Photographer Bob Gruen added one of his iconic shots of John Lennon at the Statue of Liberty.
The First Year Raised More Than $25,000
The inaugural “Turn It Up!” auction, which began as the idea of music publicist Melissa Nastasi, drew donations from Patti Smith, Eddie Vedder, and Paul McCartney. It raised more than $25,000 for Housing Works.
That success carried into this year’s lineup. The mix of celebrity contributions means fans can bid on items tied directly to artists they follow, while the proceeds benefit a specific, urgent need.
Board Member Alan Light On Why Music Fits Housing Works
Alan Light, a former Rolling Stone senior writer, has served on the board of the Housing Works Bookstore in SoHo for more than 20 years. He sees the auction as a natural match for the organization.
“We’ve done hundreds of concerts in our bookstore, presenting artists like John Mellencamp, Björk, John Mayer, and Chrissie Hynde,” he says. “We were even the location for the final scene of Taylor Swift’s ‘All Too Well’ video! The community of musicians has been a great asset in raising money for the essential efforts of Housing Works.”
“The auction is a natural fit for the organization.”
Light’s record with the bookstore speaks to why musicians keep showing up. The space has hosted concerts from a wide range of artists over the years, building a network of performers willing to contribute to causes beyond their own work.
What Bidders Can Expect From The Lots
The auction includes a wide range of items. The baseball from Matt Berninger carries handwritten lyrics, making it a physical piece of songwriting alongside the autograph. The signed print from Ani DiFranco joins her musical work with visual art. Richard Hell’s poster captures a moment from Patti Smith’s early career at a famous venue.
Kevin Barnes and Eric Nally bring their own artistic voices to the collection. Bob Gruen’s photograph of John Lennon at the Statue of Liberty is a rare piece of rock history, a snapshot of one of the most recognizable figures in popular music in one of the most recognizable locations in the world.
Bidding Closes This Thursday
Bidding closes at 10 p.m. ET this Thursday, Oct. 1. The link to bid on the “Turn It Up!” items is available online.
The timing means bidders have a limited window to enter their bids. With a closing time set for this week, anyone interested in participating should move quickly.
The Charity Behind The Sale
Housing Works is the beneficiary of the auction. The organization focuses on providing housing, healthcare, HIV prevention, and treatment to people living with HIV/AIDS.
Its mission is straightforward: ensuring that people with HIV/AIDS have access to the resources they need to live. The auction gives supporters a way to contribute through something they love — music — while supporting a specific, targeted effort.
A Second Year Of Contributions
The second year of the auction builds on last year’s success. The lineup this time around draws from a different group of contributors, with David Byrne joining the mix alongside Joan Baez and Ani DiFranco.
The combination of visual artists, musicians, and photographers means the collection offers something for collectors of different stripes. Someone interested in rock photography might target the Gruen shot. Someone who collects band posters could look at the Max’s Kansas City piece. Someone who follows singer-songwriters might focus on the Berninger baseball or the DiFranco print.
How The Auction Works
The auction runs online, which means bidders can participate from anywhere. The closing time is fixed, so everyone competes on equal footing regardless of where they are located.
The format allows for a wide pool of potential buyers. Anyone with internet access and an interest in the artists involved can take part, which broadens the fundraising reach beyond a single city or country.
The Bottom Line On This Year’s Sale
The “Turn It Up!” auction is a clear win for Housing Works and for the musicians who have stepped forward to support it. Last year’s inaugural event exceeded expectations, raising more than $25,000. This year’s lineup looks just as strong, with contributions from David Byrne, Joan Baez, and Ani DiFranco joining those from Ringo Starr and Def Leppard’s Rick Allen.
The auction brings together a community of musicians who have used their fame to help others. The result is a collection of items that are valuable on their own, but whose value is multiplied by the cause they serve.
Bidding closes this Thursday, Oct. 1, at 10 p.m. ET.
Source material: “Artwork by David Byrne, Joan Baez, Ani DiFranco Is Up for Auction,” Rolling Stone.
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