CHRISTIE'S TO 40th ANNIVERSARY OF GREEN DAY WITH A CHARITY AUCTION

ARTISTS, CONSERVATIONISTS, BUSINESS LEADERS AND FILM AND MUSIC STARS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE ARE MARKING THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF EARTH DAY WITH A GREEN AUCTION TO BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT. ORGANIZERS OF THE LIVE AUCTION ON THURSDAY AT CHRISTIE'S AND A COMPANION SILENT ONLINE SALE AND RELATED EVENTS, KNOWN AS 'A BID TO SAVE THE EARTH', EXPECT TO RAISE MILLIONS FOR FOUR NONPROFIT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS. ARTISTS JENNY HOLZER, DAMIEN HIRST, ALAN SONFIST HAVE DONATED MAJOR WORKS FOR THE SALE. JEFF KOONS WILL PROVIDE A STUDIO VISIT TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER AND ANNIE LEIBOVITZ HAS DONATED SINGED COPIES OF HER BOOK. BIDDERS CAN ALSO VIE FOR TENNIS LESSONS WITH JOHN MCENROE, AN AFTERNOON IN CENTRAL PARK WITH CANDICE BERGIN, DINNER AND THE THEATER WITH ACTRESS SIGOURNEY WEAVER OR A DAY ON THE SET WITH AUSTRALIAN STAR HUGH JACKMAN. JEWELS, WATCHES AND LUXURY GREEN TRAVEL PACKAGES WILL ROUND OUT THE ITEMS UP FOR SALE AT THURSDAY'S AUCTION. WITH PARTICIPATION FROM QUARTERS AS FAR AS DEUTSCE BANK, NBC UNIVERSAL AND RETAILERS TARGET AND BARNEYS, OFFICIALS SAID THE EVENT REFLECTED INCREASING UNDERSTANDING THAT BUSINESS CONCERNS ARE CLOSELY TIED TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, AND THAT TWO NEED NOT BE OPPOSING FORCES. PROCEEDS FROM THE AUCTION, WHICH WILL BE CARRIED ON CHRISTIE'S LIVE AT www.christies.com AND CONTINUES WITH A SILENT AUCTION ENDING ON 6.MAY AT www.abidtosavetheearth.org, WILL ALSO BENEFIT OCEANA AND CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL. CHRISTIE'S IS WAIVING ALL FEES AND COMMISSIONS FOR THE SALE, AND IN NOD TOWARD BEING GREEN IS NOT PRINTING A CATALOG. THOSE ON A MORE MODEST BUDGET CAN SCOOP UP ONE OF BARNEY'S SPECIALLY DESIGNED $40 T-SHIRTS, A TIE-IN WITH THE EVENT.