Artists of the World Launches its Social Enterprise with Online Art Auction Featuring a Monumental Work by Mary Mito

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Artists of the World (AOW), a Denver-based non-profit, social enterprise selling fine art to benefit worldwide clean water and sanitation initiatives, announces its launch and first auction. September 15, 2012 at 9:00 pm marks the inaugural event — live at www.ArtistsOfTheWorld.net — coinciding with Santa Fe Rotary Club’s Distinguished Artist’s Award Gala. Art auctioned live will be on AOW’s website, with additional lots available online only from Santa Fe galleries and artists.

While more than 200 pieces will be up for bidding, the featured piece is a monumental work by noted Santa Fe painter, Mary Mito. Her pentych Not Until Then is a mediation of water under moonlight, in oil. Each canvas measures 95” x 65”, creating an installation spanning forty feet. The starting bid on this work is $775,000.

AOW will bring the best of global art to worldwide audiences to fund crucial health, education and economic development causes. Renowned artists, as well as emerging and indigenous artists from around the world, will be represented in live and online auctions on a continuous basis. Founded as a stand-alone extension of Denver Rotary Club’s social endeavors, AOW utilizes the extraordinary reach of the International Rotary Club network of 34,000 clubs in sourcing important art and enabling participating clubs to fund key social projects.

Pete Warzel, CEO of AOW states, “This is a true social venture focused on economic development. At their core, economic growth and education are restricted by water and sanitation issues that are disturbing in scope. More than 6,000 children die each day due to unavailable sanitary drinking water with another 60,000 falling ill. Water projects, local Rotary social projects and establishing a marketplace for artists in those same geographic areas has a triple-witching multiplier effect for development.”

Art buyers and interested parties may pre-register for this event and learn more about the organization at www.ArtistsOfTheWorld.net.