Event to benefit recovering addicts

The local Amethyst House, 645 N. Walnut St., will host a benefit for substance abuse programs at 8 p.m. Saturday in the John Waldron Arts Center, with doors opening at 7 p.m. The evening will provide a beam of hope for those struggling with substance abuse through dance, public speaking and fund-raising. \nThe fifth annual benefit -- "Hope Café; Dance Performance & Celebrity Art Auction" -- will include a silent and live auction with bidding starting at 7 p.m. and lasting until 9:30 p.m. Meanwhile, the Indiana Memorial Union and Chef Sherry Houze will provide appetizers and desserts, while Mitten, a local folk music group, will perform. At 8 p.m., the Indiana Dance Theatre will perform three dances choreographed by Diane Buzzell, artistic director. A live auction will occur from 8:30 to 9 p.m., before the event wraps up with the conclusion of the silent auction.\nRecovering from alcoholism is the major theme of one of the interpretive dances to be performed titled "Hope."\n"(The dance) has three sections, and before each of them, a graduate from the Amethyst House will speak about their former addictions," Buzzell said. "They will each give a story of hope."\nThe three sections will be danced to contemporary songs by Five for Fighting, Lee Anne Womack and the biblical Serenity Prayer, and each will tell stories about alcohol addiction. \n"With my piece to Five for Fighting, my concept is about 100 years of life. What if you were 85 and could be 15 again and start over, making different choices about drinking?" Buzzell said.\nBoth the silent and live auctions will include of pottery provided by local store The Latest Glaze. Local 'celebrities' and visual artists come in to paint the ceramic before they are fired in the kiln and auctioned off. All of the money raised will go directly to the nonprofit Amethyst House.\n"We will be auctioning anything from small plates to big bowls," said Bill Benedict, owner of The Latest Glaze. The artists will include current IU Dean of Students Richard McKaig and President of the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce Steve Howard. Performers will include singer/songwriter Carrie Newcomber and retired elementary school teacher Francie Agostino.\n"It can be hard to tell the difference between pottery made by the local celebrities and visual artists," Benedict said. "Many of the local celebrities have done this benefit all five years and are experienced. Some of the visual artists do not have much background in painting ceramics themselves."\nThe Amethyst House Inc. is a United Way nonprofit organization providing aid to people with drug addictions. All proceeds from this event will support programs and services provided by the Amethyst House. The fifth annual fund-raiser coincides with the 15th annual National Recovery Month, sponsored by the Center for Substance Abuse within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.\n"This is our major fund-raiser of the year," said Janna Hocker, associate director of development. "All of our money will go to support our services and programs, and we help some of the neediest people in the community." \nTickets will be sold at the door for $25. For more information call the Amethyst House at 336-3570.\n-- Contact staff writer Benjames Derrick at bderrick@indiana.edu .