Only a week before Hot Metal, the art show Ed Parrish, Jr. is currently curating, opened at SPACE Gallery, his family's home and studio were destroyed in a morning fire in Etna. Only two weeks later, Saturday, Feb. 1, some local musicians got together for a benefit for the family, who lost nearly everything they owned in the Jan. 18 fire.

The apartment where Parrish lived with his wife, Carley, and their 6-year-old daughter, Gaia, adjoined the studio space where Ed and Carley, both artists, did much of their work. Ed and Carley collaborate on a an art installation and performance project called Hot Metal Happening.

Several friends and associates of the Parrishes jumped to help out when they heard the news; art-scene staple Suzanne Pace organized an on-the-fly drive to collect household items to donate to the family, and Centipede Eest, The Working Poor and ukulele lady Liz Hammond organized the Friday night benefit show at Gooski's on short notice. The show packed the rock bar and raised over $1,000 for the family; in addition to the $5 cover at the show, a pass-the-hat collection was taken up. Employees of the Sprout Fund, a local arts funding organization, also took up a collection.

A donation box is set up at SPACE Gallery right now for those who would still like to contribute. You may also get in touch with the Parrishes directly via e-mail: [email protected], [email protected].