Just Do It

Mew Gallery Fundraiser

by Molly Dickinson

Fri., June 22, 5-9 p.m., $8, The M Room, 15 W. Girard Ave., 215-625-2424, www.mewgallery.org

Eight months ago, when Carolynne McNeel and Lauren Parker opened Mew Gallery at Ninth and Christian streets, the little art space and boutique made a big impression. Their secret? McNeel and Parker foster open-armed, closed-wallet partnerships with local emerging artists. But having one of the fairest splits in town can get pricey.

"Making money isn't our first concern," laughs McNeel. "That's why we need to have a fundraiser."

Even when requesting donations to help maintain the space, support weekly craft nights and buy basic equipment like register tape, these ladies give back and definitely make it a-mew-sing. For this Friday's fundraiser, they've reserved the M Room and peeps such as Grammar Debate's Joseph Lekkas and Sugartown's Sara Sherr to spin tunes on the dance floor.

Throughout the night, they will auction off a considerable haul of ultra-hip loot from local artists � including a book of Sarah B. Pohlman prints, an Isaac Bushkin painting and a knitting kit of hand-spun and dyed yarns from Nikki Virbitsky. Jewelry, clothing, fine art prints and all manner of handicrafts will also be up for the bidding.

In keeping with Mew's uber-fair notions of accessibility and noncommercialism, two-for-$5 raffle tickets will be available for those cash-poor attendees looking to score some wall hangings and help ensure the gallery stays in business.

"We've dedicated our entire lives to [Mew] basically," says McNeel. "We really believe in it."