Geralyn Robinson was moved when she saw the images of the earthquake in Haiti. "I knew I had to do something," she recalls.

Geralyn, who owns Geralyn's Art Studio in Maplewood, called on her friends and fellow artists to help. Along with Rick Hauser, owner of The Framing Mill, they came up with the idea of an auction. Rick offered up his new space, GAS gallery and studio, in Maplewood. Geralyn asked for donations of art work to be auctioned off with the proceeds going to the charity Concern Worldwide. They are hoping to raise over $3,000 by silent auction. The event starts Friday at 7:30 p.m., and bid sheets will be out until 9:15 p.m.

Concern Worldwide was founded in Ireland in 1968 in response to the famine in Biafra. The non-governmental humanitarian aid organization began as Africa Concern. Through the years and many unfortunate world events needing aid, the name changed to Concern Worldwide to better reflect the organization's global reach.

The core mission of Concern is to "...ensure that people living in extreme poverty are able to meet their basic needs, achieve their rights and manage their own development. We do so by working with communities and by using our shared experience and knowledge to address the root causes of extreme poverty." Concern has been working in Haiti with 120 staff since 1994. Over 91 cents of every dollar raised by Concern Worldwide goes directly to helping people in need.

Over 15 local artists have donated more than 30 pieces for the auction–including jewelry, paintings, prints, photography, ceramics, pastels and encaustics. Prices range from $50 to $1,200.

There will be refreshments donated by St. James's Gate Publick House, Arturo's Osteria & Pizzeria and Village Trattoria in Maplewood and Cryan's in South Orange. Jeremy Moss will be supplying the music.

All the artists are local to Maplewood and South Orange. At this time, they include Meral Akyuz, Karen Bokert, Ron Brown, Sandra Charlap, Russell Christian, Barbara Cromarty, Mikel Frank, Micha Hamilton, Denise Hardy, Rick Hauser, Peggy Kerwan, Steven J. King, Jeremy Moss, Shaun McClure, Alison Oxman, Susan Napack, Tara O'Leary, Rick Parker, Geralyn Robinson, Lisa Marie Pressley, Lisa Pressman, Rachael Sayers, Felix Sockwell, Howard Stein, P. Stoffers, Anne Sussman, Deb Trebitz, Joe Walentini, Janet Walentini, Florence Weisz, Elizabeth Carol Winchester, Florence Wint and Joy Yagid.

The event takes place at GAS gallery and studio, 411 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood, NJ.