'Cups Full of Hope'

It's appropriate today, during the Blog Carnival on the word "hope", to highlight a creative local event, "Cups Full of Hope", which is both an art exhibition and a fundraiser to benefit the nonprofit Tigerlily Foundation.

Tigerlily helps support women ages 15-40 who are living with breast cancer. Its founder and president Maimah Karmo is a breast cancer survivor; she created the foundation while undergoing chemotherapy.

The unique exhibition, sponsored by Success in the City, professional women's answer to the "good old boys' network", features bras that have been transformed, literally, into stunning works of art. (If you work fast, you may still submit a bra. The deadline has been extended to 4:00 p.m., September 10. Go here for design and submission information.) 

More than 60 bras, all numbered and titled, already have been submitted by artists from throughout the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. The public is encouraged to vote for a favorite design. First, second, and third prizes, as well as a People's Choice award and a Best Inspirational Story award, are to be given to the winning artists. To view images of the eligible submissions and vote, go here. (Click on each image to enlarge the view.)

All of the bras will be auctioned at the "Cups Full of Hope" event, which takes place September 15, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., at the Center for Innovative Technology in Herndon, Virginia. Details are here.

The press release for the exhibition and fundraiser is here.