Appalachian Art for Appalachian Families

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Appalachian Art for Appalachian Families (AAAF) is on a mission to raise funds for the Sludge Safety Project's purchase of water testing kits for West Virginia communities concerned about the water quality impacts of coal slurry injection and coal sludge impoundments. This month, AAAF will raise funds for the kits in two ways:

· The organization will hold an Art Exhibition at the Shepherdstown Train Station on Friday, November 19, 2010, and is announcing a call for art submissions. (Artists will receive 50 percent of proceeds from their art sales; AAAF will apply 10 percent of art proceeds to the cost of venue and food preparation; and the remaining 40 percent will be designated for the Sludge Safety Project.) AAAF encourages artists who live in the Appalachian mountains — and those inspired by them — to submit their arts and crafts (all artistic mediums welcome) by its November 15 deadline. The exhibition opens at noon on November 19, with the artists’ reception at 6 p.m.

Artwork collection will occur in the Charleston, W.Va., area (phone: 540-535-8458), as well as in Shepherdstown, W.Va. (phone: 304-876-9900).

· AAAF will also host a "Deers & Beers" Fundraising Dinner at the Shepherdstown Train Station at 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 20, 2010. Cost of the dinner is $25 and 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Sludge Safety Project. The dinner will feature locally brewed beer and wild game.

AAAF remains concerned about toxic slurry injection, drinking water quality and the safety of West Virginia residents. As a result, proceeds from the above-mentioned events will benefit the Sludge Safety Project (www.sludgesafety.org), a nonprofit organization that advocates for West Virginia residents' access to clean water and safety for communities at risk from coal slurry injection and coal sludge impoundments.

About Appalachian Art for Appalachian Families
AAAF's mission is to stand with families of southern West Virginia and pool its resources to help ensure clean water and healthy, safe homes. The nonprofit organization, based in Shepherdstown, W.Va., builds unity among all West Virginian families by showcasing the arts and crafts that celebrate West Virginia's mountain region. AAAF aims to bring people together across county lines so that their lives may be enriched with unity, pride, artistic expression and a shared commitment to human rights.

About the Sludge Safety Project
The Sludge Safety Project (SSP) is a collaborative effort of the Huntington, W.Va.-based Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, the Whitesville, W.Va.-based Coal River Mountain Watch and West Virginia communities concerned about the quality of their drinking water, coal sludge impoundment safety and slurry injection hazards.

SSP (www.sludgesafety.org) educates and advocates on issues related to slurry-based health and safety dangers and access to clean drinking water. The group is currently calling for a ban on ban of wet slurry production in West Virginia.

--Submitted by Viv Stockman