Jackson Free Press

Gallery 119 Director Ellen Bourdeaux wants to foster a place for Jackson artists and improve the community. She is combining those efforts for the "Luck of the Draw" fundraiser this Saturday at Gallery 119.

Bordeaux, 50, is the chairman of the inaugural fundraiser for the Northeast Jackson YMCA, which will distribute the funds to community programs in all metro-area YMCAs.

"The metro area YMCA serves 700 young people a day, and it has several programs including parenting and life skills," Bourdeaux says.

Bordeaux says more than 80 artists, including AT&T president Mayo Flynt, Sheriff Malcolm McMillin and Deuce McAllister, are contributing pieces of work for the event, which will be displayed without their names. After participants purchase an art ticket at the fundraiser, Master of Ceremonies Jeff Good will conduct a drawing. Once selected, ticket holders will have 30 seconds to select the piece of art they want.

Bordeaux says the fundraiser is also a great way to showcase artists' work in Jackson. "I have been very impressed by the number of good artists in Jackson," she says. "We need to capitalize on our native talents."

Bourdeaux moved to Jackson from Oxford in 2008. In addition to bringing in exhibits to Gallery 119, she creates her own artwork consisting of assemblages in boxes. She has a master's degree in film production from Boston University and a master's degree in publication design from the University of Baltimore.

"Luck of the Draw" is Saturday at Gallery 119 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission to the event is $25, and art tickets are $100. For more information, call 601-969-4091.