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Arts & Entertainment

Rock n' Auction


By

Jen Carlson

Published May 7, 2007

Modified Mar 7, 2008


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By

Jen Carlson

Published May 7, 2007

Modified Mar 7, 2008


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2007_05_arts_williemae.jpgSure, there are tons of auctions happening - a handwritten draft of a Steinbeck novel will likely take in $500K at the end of the month, Courtney is gonna sell Kurt's pajamas, the Dukes of Hazzard car (the General Lee) took in nearly $10M this weekend and the Met held an "Art for Opera" auction yesterday.

We'd like to focus on the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls, however. Tonight is the last night of their auction, which goes towards the future of their summer camps, and you don't even need to leave your laptop to help out. Up on the block are a Beastie Boys signed guitar, a stay at a ranch in Mississippi, massages, tickets to performances, Marc Jacobs handbags and more.

The camp, for those who don't know, is for "little ladies of Brooklyn and beyond in hopes of giving them the opportunity to fulfill their swan song," though they've recently started a campe for ladies over 18, too! A little history from their website:

"Founded in 2004, Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls is a non-profit summer day camp serving girls aged 8-18 in New York City. The program offers girls the chance to learn how to play musical instruments, write songs, perform, learn about different types of music, and generally 'rock out' in a supportive environment that fosters self-confidence, self-esteem, creativity, tolerance, and collaboration.

Most campers come from the five boroughs of New York City and the metropolitan area. Approximately 25% of the campers report annual household incomes under $20,000, and more than half of campers receive partial or full scholarships (full tuition for the 2005 and 2006 sessions was $500).

The camp is named after Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton, a blues and rock performer/songwriter who was one of the first women to play the music that came to be known as 'rock n' roll.'"

Earlier this year Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Kimya Dawson played a benefit show for the budding rock stars at Bowery Ballroom. Want to lend your support as well? Bid away! If you know a girl in the area between ages 8 and 18 who may want to get their rock on - or if you just want to save the kid from emo - direct them over to the application for summer camp, and if you're over 18 and want to learn some licks...bid on a spot at Ladies Rock Camp!

Photo by Kate Milford, more at Willie Mae's flickr.

Tagged

art

beastie boys

Big Mama

bowery ballroom

brooklyn

city

Clap Your Hands

clap your hands say yeah

environment

event

general lee

history

Kimya Dawson

Mae

marc jacobs

Music

new york

new york city

people

photos

rock

Say Yeah

the future

Tonight

Willie Mae Rock Camp


Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


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