November 6, 2008

Artist Guild giving back to family who gives and gives

By JOHN CARLSON
jcarlson@muncie.gannett.com

MUNCIE -- Members of the Muncie Artists Guild are combining their talents and artwork to aid an injured man whose mother is the group's treasurer.

David McCauley -- who grew up in Muncie and graduated from Ball State University -- was hurt Sept. 14 in a diving accident in New York City.

He is the son of Jean McCauley and her husband, Mike, who is also well known hereabouts for the heirloom tomatoes that he sells at Minnetrista during the Farmers Market season.

"They are just a family that gives and gives and gives," said Susie Morgan, who is president of the guild.

Now, she said, the guild hopes to give something back to help the couple and their son.

After his accident, David, who is 32, spent three to four weeks in an intensive care unit, then was flown by air ambulance to the Shepard Center, Atlanta, Ga., for more treatment.

"There are enormous expenses for rehabilitation," Morgan said.

David's sixth cervical vertebrae was shattered in the pool accident, and his spinal cord was traumatically injured.

So far, he has undergone three surgeries, Morgan said. He has very limited arm use, she added, and no feeling from the chest down. No one is sure what the prognosis is and how long any possible level of recovery will take to achieve.

There has been a Web site created to keep everyone up to date -- www.davidjmccauley.org -- and there have been steps taken to establish a fund to help defray costs.

Muncie Artists Guild is hosting an art raffle on Saturday, Nov. 15, at FB Fogg, to help.

There will be various gift baskets of small art objects, as well as larger paintings and other works, in the raffle. Tickets are $5, $10 and $25 and are based on the price group of the items.

Items donated include an Impressionist oil painting worth at least $1,000 from Angel Mercado in Farmland.

Other items donated so far are two large charcoal drawings from Alan Patrick, valued at $500 each, two oil paintings from Morgan valued at $575 and $375, sterling and jasper earrings from Pat Garofolo, a hand-quilted wall hanging from Cathy Goetzinger valued at $60 and a framed original watercolor painting from Sandy Beitsinger valued at $150.

There is also a large watercolor framed painting from Jim Faulkner from his River Odyssey paintings, valued at $900, and a pastel from David Dale framed in one of his hand-made frames, valued at $725.

FB Fogg will host a preview party Nov. 14 from 5 to 8 p.m. where people can see the items and purchase tickets. Light refreshments willl be served.

Additional ones of original art are welcome, Morgan said. Artists willing to make donations can contact her at 284-5374.

"Anything that we can do to help," Morgan said, "we're more than willing to do it."

· Contact John Carlson at 213-5824.