As they say in the world of sports: Read and React. The alliteration of these two verbs doesn’t only apply to playing defense in a basketball game, but also is applicable toward the creation of art. We all internalize what we see with our eyes, and feel with our hearts. But artists do not only read…they react. They conceptualize, craft, and comment on the situation in which their hearts are drawn toward. They chisel out and sculpt chunks of their soul, hoping that one day such fragments might be framed in a museum, inspiring others to carve out chunks of their own souls to share with the world.
With world leaders playing games of brinkmanship, fueling the hostile flame of a humanitarian crisis, digital artists have come together in order to use NFT sales to support the current calamity in Ukraine. With the transparency of public blockchain ledgers, and the expediency of transferring cryptocurrency, NFT technology acts as a new hyperspeed shuttle for carrying and dispersing funds to organizations and individuals from across the globe that are in need of financial help to supply them with the resources they need. Over the past two weeks, hundreds of artists have created new artwork influenced by what they see taking place in Ukraine, and have utilized public digital marketplaces to sell their artworks, sending profits over to organizations stationed in Eastern Europe which aim to make a direct impact in people's lives. Take a look at some projects that have spawned in response to this global issue.
Reli3f:
This is a collective of 37 of some of the most prominent figures in the digital art world, utilizing the public sales of their work on Opensea to send 100% of the proceeds to relief efforts and charities in Ukraine. Even the illustrious Printmaker Shepard Fairey has created an NFT as a part of this initiative.
So far, Reli3f has accumulated approximately 696 Ether, which is equivalent to 1,789,520 dollars at the time of this writing. And the beauty of blockchain ledgers, is that you can track the transactions between these NFT protocols and the vetted organizations they choose to fund. Check out this twitter thread that Reli3f posted which shares all of the information needed in order to corroborate that your coin is actually going into the hands of those who you’ve pledged to help.
HolyWater:
A startup looking to become a Unicorn in the Gaming Industry, HolyWater has brought together hundreds of artists, Ukrainian and International alike, and crafted a collection of artworks which comment on this global issue. The curated virtual gallery with all of these NFTs is absolutely amazing! Navigate it for yourself.
UkraineDAO:
A fundraising effort spearheaded by the art collective PussyRiot, yes you read that correctly, has accumulated nearly 7 million dollars and counting. The most Herculean of them all, UkraineDAO has been the most popular landing site for those interested in seamlessly donating their crypto to the cause at hand. But again, the valid question must be asked…How does one make sure it's not a scam and the money isn't actually being laundered through the rinse and repeat cycle? Well, the proof is in the pudding…Blockchain technology. The transactions, wallet addresses, and organizations are all vetted and transparent, making sure no funny business goes on behind the curtain.
Even if you think NFTs are a fad that’ll go out of style as quickly as bell-bottoms, you can’t deny the impact they have on the people who live and breathe on this planet. And just like the rest of history, it’s the artists and their totemic creations which will act as the pièce de résistance toward restoring this world.
Stay Curious!
~NFT Art Source
Article by Nate Galper
How NFT Art is Providing Aid to the Ukrainian Crisis