NEW YORK - Forty Manhattan artists donated their artwork to aid Tsunami victims.

The 42 artworks were exhibited at “Von,” a bar on Bleecker Street until March 28. They were on silent auction for 22 days. All proceeds are going directly to a Tsunami relief charity chosen by the artists.

Charles Von Herrlich, owner of Von, was approached by his artist friend Eladio Sacaguing Tagle, nicknamed “Spirit,” who came up with the idea.

Von, a Pratt graduate, who until that moment felt powerless about helping Tsunami survivors, sprung into action. He spread the word around that his bar would host the exhibit and asked another artist friend, “Ondi McMaster,” to help organize this event.

The idea became a reality within a month.

“It is my privilege to let my friends express themselves about the tragedy,” said Von Herrlich.

Von described the participating artists as “A group of loose- knit friends and friends of friends.” Despite his humble words, the silent auction’s last day felt like a tight-knit family gathering. It was an exhilarating evening when this family of friends and “almost regulars” celebrated together a joined effort of giving.

Eric Williams, a WBAI radio reporter, volunteered to be the MC for the event. “This is the spirit of New York, local people making a difference in a terrible global disaster,” said Williams. Williams knew Von Herrlich from when he lived down the block from “Von” in 2001.

The bidding was done by an old fashion ballet box tallied by hand. On the last auction day, bidding rules were loosely kept. You could ask the lady in the back what the current bid was and bid higher. At the final moments, bidding an extra $20 would win you the bid. No hard feelings, though, it was all about the cause.

Over $5,000 dollars was raised. Ondi picked a non-profit charity based in India called “American Indian Association” that would match dollar for dollar the money raised, all the way up to $1 million.

Local resident Allison Ball walked in and saw this as a special opportunity to both contribute to the tsunami relief efforts and own a piece made by artists who won her respect.

“These are clearly talented emerging artists donating their art. That even increases the value,” said Ball. Ball had to leave before the final bidding. She left a blank check with her friend at the bar, but did not win her desired piece.

Ondi’s piece was a photograph of a giant Buddha’s head from the Bayon Temple in Cambodia. She decided to auction that piece because “the ideology of Buddhism is that life is suffering and through suffering we come to understand ourselves and the world better,” she said.

On that same Monday, an underwater quake hit off the Indonesian Island of Nias. The earthquake was similar in magnitude to the one that caused the Tsunami wave of December 26.

The disaster, which according to reports killed at least 1,000, made the local effort that much more relevant.

Through the auction, Ondi was hoping that a little seed was planted for others to follow. “For a big city, such an unselfish act of compassion can be pulled off,” said Ondi.

Some of the pieces are still available for purchase at: www.omfineart.net/TSUNAMISITE