Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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The Wall Street Journal - May 15, 1996
Andy Alford
The bevy of boxes is all part of an event, dubbed "Boxing Back," run by the Houston chapter of a national AIDS charity, the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. Created by 100 local artists using wood, cardboard and ceramic boxes as a medium, the pieces will be auctioned off Saturday night at the Texas Medical Center.
Each year, the design foundation takes a simple theme -- and runs with it. For last year's fund-raiser, the foundation asked 100 local artists to make art out of ordinary chairs. It called the event "Take a Seat."
In keeping with this year's theme, Houston's home-grown boxing champion, George Foreman, will act as honorary chairman of the event. Besides auctioning off the panoply of boxes -- ranging from jewelry boxes to bureaus to hope chests -- also up for bid will be box seats to the Houston Opera, box lunches from various local restaurants and boxing lessons from local gyms.
But the focus will be the boxes themselves. One artist turned Hermes makeup boxes into an accordion. An electrical-outlet box has been festooned with coins, marbles and tassels.
Some of the works are more solemn. "White Columns," by local artist William "Jake" Steen, consists of white chalk pillars set in a wooden base. Mr. Steen says it's a "study for a monumental architecture memorial for all those who have been affected by AIDS."
The design foundation expects to raise at least $125,000 from the activities. Starting bids will range from $25 to $500.
Tori Williams, the Houston chapter director, says the money will be given to area social-service agencies to benefit those who have HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
General-admission tickets to the exhibit and auction are $40 dollars each and may be purchased at the door. But not at the box office.
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