Local artist, Dennis Mathewson, teams up with Pictures Plus and Chromaco to help produce an auction off an original work of art to help raise money for the American Red Cross Japan disaster relief fund. The painting is entitled "Tomodachi" which, in English, translates into friend or friends. It depicts two tikis – one tiki (representing Hawaii) sharing a sprouting coconut with the other tiki (representing Japan). The painting symbolizes the friendship between Hawaii and Japan, and the Kokua extended to Japan in the wake of the tsunami.

Update!

The painting Tomodachi has currently raised over $15,000 in the past three weeks for the American Red Cross Japan Disaster Relief Fund. The painting was created by local artist, Dennis Mathewson, with the intent of auctioning it off on eBay along with limited edition prints of Tomodachi with 100% of the proceeds going to the Disaster Relief Fund. The eBay auction for the Tomodachi original raised $7,102. The winning bid was $3,551 which was matched by the donor's company, bringing the total to $7,102. $8,000 was raised from sales of the Tomodachi limited edition giclées. The edition was limited to 40 prints selling for $200 each. Matted fine art prints are still available at Pictures Plus stores for a $20 donation to the Disaster Relief Fund. Pictures Plus hope to raise $20,000 or more through sales of Tomodachi to benefit the victims of the disasters in Japan.

For more info on "Tomodachi", please download the full press release here.