When the world bears witness to tragedies on the scale of Japan's recent disaster, it affects everyone, and it is natural to feel powerless. Many find themselves asking the question: "What could I possibly do to help?" While for most the answer is not at once apparent, for Japanese American ceramic artist Ayumi Horie, her response was both decided and immediate.

She picked up the phone, called a few friends and asked if they would be willing to donate pieces to an online art auction — and "Handmade for Japan" was born. With the help of two friends who also have strong ties to Japan, the initiative began to take a life of its own, with offers of support and original artworks from top artists in both America and Japan pouring in via the Internet.

"We started with a list of artists but soon we were getting hundreds of donation offers," explains Horie. "We had tapped into the natural propensity of artists to be generous and contribute to a cause in a way that is wholly personal."