Shake for the Quake
Fundraiser for Haiti Relief | La Mancha Gallery, Pasadena, 2010
"We must not forget their continued struggle. The work in Haiti is long-term. We can work together — not to change our situation in one day, but step by step."
The Curatorial Act of Giving
On June 4, 2010 — nearly five months after the earthquake that devastated Haiti — La Mancha Gallery organized a benefit exhibition and silent auction at 132 North Euclid Avenue in Pasadena. The timing was deliberate. The world had moved on. La Mancha Gallery had not.
Shake for the Quake was built on a simple but demanding curatorial conviction: that a gallery has responsibilities beyond its walls, and that artists, when asked to show up, can change things. Omar Holguin brought together five artists from the gallery's core roster — Natalie Franco, David Taveras, Eddie Jelinet, Minas Halaj, and Samvel Hallaj — each of whom donated not only their artwork but their time and commitment to a cause larger than any single exhibition.
Six works were presented across 30 linear feet of exhibition space, in an environment where the act of looking at art was inseparable from the act of participating in something larger than it. The works were not illustrations of tragedy. They were offers — made by artists who believed that what they had made could do some good in the world. The evening raised $10,000 for Haiti relief and recovery, directed to Episcopal Relief & Development and their long-term work rebuilding local infrastructure and creating economic opportunity for Haitians.
The effort continues. Shake for the Quake stands in the La Mancha Gallery archive as one of the clearest expressions of what independent curatorial practice, at its most committed, can be: not a program, not a platform, but a choice — made by a gallery and its artists — to use what they have in service of what is needed.
"We must not forget their continued struggle. The work in Haiti is long-term. We can work together — not to change our situation in one day, but step by step."
— Omar Holguin, Curator & Director, La Mancha Fine ArtsShake for the Quake at a Glance
| Exhibition | Shake for the Quake Fundraiser for Haiti Relief |
| Date | Friday, June 4, 2010 |
| Venue | 132 North Euclid Avenue Pasadena, CA 91101 |
| Companion Event | Dance for the Quake All Saints Church, Pasadena |
| Presented By | La Mancha Gallery Curator — Omar Holguin, Director & Owner |
| Beneficiary | Episcopal Relief & Development (ER&D) Long-term Haiti relief & infrastructure recovery |
| Artists | Natalie Franco, David Taveras, Eddie Jelinet, Minas Halaj, Samvel Hallaj |
| Works | 6 works under consignment — various media, various frame sizes |
| Install | 30 linear feet (10 linear meters) |
| Funds Raised | $10,000 — via silent auction benefit |
What the Evening Presented
Five Artists, One Commitment
Natalie Franco, David Taveras, Eddie Jelinet, Minas Halaj, and Samvel Hallaj each donated their artwork and time — a collective act of solidarity rooted in the gallery's core roster.
Silent Auction Benefit
Six works presented across 30 linear feet of exhibition space at 132 North Euclid Avenue — each piece offered not as decoration but as a direct contribution to Haiti's recovery.
$10,000 Raised
Funds raised through the silent auction went directly to Episcopal Relief & Development — directed toward long-term economic opportunity and infrastructure rebuilding in Haiti.
Dance for the Quake
A companion benefit held at All Saints Church in Pasadena extended the evening beyond the gallery walls, bringing the act of cultural solidarity into the wider community.
Episcopal Relief & Development
La Mancha Gallery partnered with ER&D — one of the world's most effective humanitarian organizations — focused specifically on sustainable, long-term recovery rather than immediate relief alone.
Art as Accountability
Presented five months after the earthquake, when the world's attention had moved on — a deliberate curatorial act affirming that the gallery's responsibility to the world it inhabits does not expire.
The Roster
Five artists from the La Mancha Gallery core roster — each donating their artwork and time in an act of collective solidarity with the people of Haiti.
How the Benefit Was Built
La Mancha Gallery applied its iterative, artist-centered curatorial methodology to the production of Shake for the Quake — building the benefit exhibition around a clear humanitarian commitment and the willing participation of five core gallery artists.
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Phase 01
Commitment & Cause Identification
La Mancha Gallery committed to supporting Haiti's long-term relief and recovery in the months following the January 2010 earthquake. Episcopal Relief & Development identified as the beneficiary organization for their focus on sustainable economic recovery and infrastructure rebuilding.
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Phase 02
Artist Engagement & Artwork Donation
Five artists from the La Mancha Gallery core roster — Natalie Franco, David Taveras, Eddie Jelinet, Minas Halaj, and Samvel Hallaj — were invited to participate. Each donated their artwork and time. Six works confirmed under consignment across 30 linear feet of exhibition space.
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Phase 03
Installation & Silent Auction
Exhibition installed at 132 North Euclid Avenue, Pasadena. Silent auction format developed to maximize funds raised for Haiti relief. Works presented in an environment where the act of acquiring art was directly linked to an act of humanitarian support.
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Phase 04
Community Benefit & Impact
Opening benefit on June 4, 2010: silent auction and companion Dance for the Quake event at All Saints Church, Pasadena. $10,000 raised and directed to Episcopal Relief & Development for continued Haiti recovery work. The effort continues.
Art in Service of the World
Shake for the Quake stands in the La Mancha Gallery archive as one of the clearest expressions of what the gallery believes art can be: not a program, not a platform, but a choice — made by a curator and five artists — to use what they had in service of what was needed. Presented five months after the earthquake, when the world's attention had moved on, the benefit affirmed that La Mancha Gallery's commitment to the communities it serves does not expire with the news cycle.
The $10,000 raised through the silent auction went directly to Episcopal Relief & Development — contributing, step by step, to the long and necessary work of rebuilding Haiti's infrastructure and economic opportunity. The effort continues. It always does. And that, more than any single evening, is what the exhibition stands for.
Donated Their Work
Consignment
Haiti Relief
Benefit Year
Not to change our situation in one day — but step by step. The work in Haiti is long-term. The effort continues.
Art in Service of the World
Shake for the Quake stands in the La Mancha Gallery archive as one of the clearest expressions of what the gallery believes art can be: not a program, not a platform, but a choice — made by a curator and five artists — to use what they had in service of what was needed. Presented five months after the earthquake, when the world's attention had moved on, the benefit affirmed that La Mancha Gallery's commitment to the communities it serves does not expire with the news cycle.
The $10,000 raised through the silent auction went directly to Episcopal Relief & Development — contributing, step by step, to the long and necessary work of rebuilding Haiti's infrastructure and economic opportunity. The effort continues. It always does. And that, more than any single evening, is what the exhibition stands for.
Donated Their Work
Consignment
Haiti Relief
Benefit Year