Artrageous will celebrate 20 years of art and imaginative times on Sat., Nov. 10, from 6 to 10 p.m. when ten of Nashville’s art galleries will open their doors in a benefit for Nashville CARES, featuring original art by artists and themed-parties tracing Dorothy’s fateful trip over the rainbow and through the exotic Land of Oz.

At 10 p.m. all roads will converge on the Emerald City Late Party at City Hall in the Gulch.

Be a part of the Twentieth Anniversary while helping raise awareness and support for Nashville CARES, Middle Tennessee’s comprehensive AIDS education, service and organization.

“Artrageous Hosts always get the most fun out of the evening,” said Artrageous 20 Co-Chair Brian Pickler. “Our Hosts enjoy a range of special perks set aside just for them so, as the sand slips through the hourglass toward November 10, now is the time to click those ruby slippers and join in the extra fun as one of the Artrageous OZ elite.”

Artrageous Hosts enjoy an array of perks including invitations to the Host Party on Nov. 1, at Rocket Town, all-access to the gallery parties, complimentary parking at City Hall, reserved seats on a Van Gogh van for the gallery crawl, access behind the curtain into the Late Party Host Lounge, recognition in the commemorative event program and an invitation to the Thank You Party in Spring 2008.

Host packages come in all sizes to fill every need including the Toto at $150 for the single Host, Cowardly Lion at $300 for a couple of Host passes, Tin Man at $600 with passes for four Hosts, Scarecrow at $1200 with eight passes and Dorothy at $2400 with Host-level passes for 16. Individual non-host event tickets are also available at the Ruby Slippers level for $85 and provide general admission access to the gallery tour and late party.

Galleries participating in Artrageous OZ include ten of Nashville’s finest and represent diverse artistic styles, genres and venues including The Arts Company, Bennett Galleries, Cumberland Gallery, Dangenart, Estel Gallery, Finer Things, Local Color, Midtown Gallery, Richter Gallery and Tennessee Art League (TAL). The galleries also donate 10 percent, or more, of all proceeds from purchases made during Artrageous directly to Nashville CARES.

Co-chairs for the 20th Anniversary, Artrageous OZ are Brian Pickler, Scott Ridgway, Ritchie Morrison, Maeve McConville, Ken Boshardy and Shawn Renegar.

In the years since 1987 when Nashville Doyen John Bridges conceived the unique event, literally thousands of volunteers, gallery owners and patrons from across the city have come together each Fall, raising more than $2 million so far to support the ongoing work of Nashville CARES, Middle Tennessee’s comprehensive AIDS organization. 

“CARES continues to make a positive difference in the lives of Middle Tennesseans, serving over 1,400 clients affected by HIV/AIDS and providing prevention education to more than 38,000 people each year,” said Pickler.

Last year more than 300 men and women were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in middle Tennessee and one out of three of the men were under age 25. Experts also believe another 900 people are infected but don’t it. That’s why the services provided by Nashville CARES are needed now more than ever.

“Artrageous helps to provide the resources needed to make Nashville CARES one of our city’s strongest, most respected, and most effective non-profit agencies,” Pickler said. “With your support, Artrageous OZ will be the most successful year ever, and you will certainly know that you are not in Kansas anymore.”

For more information on how to be a part of the Host Committee and to purchase tickets, visit www.artrageous.org or contact Susan Meador at smeador@artrageous.org.