Auctions & Sweepstakes
Two ways we raise money to fund our work are auctions and sweepstakes. These fundraisers provide unique opportunities for fans and collectors to own authentic pieces of Metallica memorabilia or enjoy unique Metallica experiences while supporting the band's non-profit organization.
Our Givergy auction page, awmhauction.com, is the official source for all AWMH auctions and will be updated as new listings become available. Our Fandiem sweepstake page, fandiem.com/nonprofits/all-within-my-hands, is the official source for all sweepstakes benefiting AWMH (hosted by us or others), and will be updated as new listings become available.
Win a One-Of-A-Kind Mosaic Guitar Pick Portrait of Metallica, Autographed by the Band Members
A truly unique piece, “RIFF LIFE” is hand-crafted from 6,000 Dunlop guitar picks, creating a textured, immersive surface that reflects the intensity of Metallica’s music. This piece measures 63” X 47”, including the frame.
Conceived with the intention of supporting the band’s foundation, All Within My Hands, 20% of the picks included are Dunlop Tortex® Triangle Picks, custom-created for the charity, featuring AWMH’s signature light blue and Metallica’s 72 Seasons yellow for the augmented logos.
Assorted Dunlop Celuloid, Pearloid, and Tortex® picks were used to assemble the mosaic portrait of James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Robert Trujillo, as well as the Metallica logo.
Adorning the frame are the official, commemorative Dunlop Tortex® Triangle Picks created for each city throughout the 2026 European leg of the M72 World Tour, during which this mosaic was constructed, forming a built‑in historical narrative that connects the artwork directly to the band’s global journey.
Complementing Arena’s own trademark guitar pick bearing his signature are four additional autographed picks, one by each member of Metallica.
“RIFF LIFE” is currently on display in San Francisco at Haight Street Art Center’s latest exhibition, The Art of Metallica.
About the Artist
Born in New York and based in Florida, John Arena is a mosaic artist whose work transforms thousands of guitar picks into dynamic, contemporary visual compositions. Shaped by a lifelong connection to music, Arena brings a perspective rooted in creativity, discipline, and service.
Arena spent his career in healthcare before discovering his artistic direction during the COVID‑19 pandemic. His transition into art was driven by reinvention and reflection. Returning to the music that influenced his early life, he chose guitar picks as his medium for their symbolism: sound, energy, and emotional force. This decision became the foundation of a distinctive visual language defined by movement, texture, and meticulous craftsmanship. Each mosaic is built from thousands of individually placed picks, creating surfaces that echo the rhythm and physicality of live performance.
His work has been exhibited and sold in art galleries and shows across major U.S. markets, including New York, Miami, Palm Beach, and Las Vegas. Arena’s collectors include private buyers, musicians, and philanthropic supporters who are drawn to both the originality of his medium and the purpose behind his work.
Philanthropy is central to Arena’s artistic mission. He uses his mosaics to support charitable organizations nationwide, believing that art should create meaningful impact. His pieces have raised $290,000 for nonprofit causes. A portrait of Alice Cooper generated $120,000 for Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers, and additional works have supported St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Joey’s Song, and other organizations dedicated to improving lives and strengthening communities.
Arena continues to expand his body of work with a clear purpose: to raise $1 million for charity through his art. His current projects explore the intersection of music, memory, and visual storytelling, further developing a medium that merges artistic expression with philanthropic impact.
About Dunlop
From picks to pedals and every accessory in between, Dunlop Manufacturing has been creating world-class gear for musicians for over 50 years.
Long considered the holy grail of all pick materials, tortoiseshell had been outlawed in the ’70s, and no pick-maker had come up with a suitable replacement. Jim Dunlop, who worked as a machinist before establishing Dunlop Manufacturing, was determined to create one himself. Experimenting with more modern materials, he chose to work with Delrin and spent more than a year developing a way to draw out its full potential.
As he formulated his mojo-enhancing process, he sent prototypes to professional musicians on the road to gather real-world feedback. Jim reworked his process each time, and in the end, his project became less about mimicking tortoiseshell and more about creating a guitar pick that was great in its own right, one that any player would love to use.
Dunlop named his new creation Tortex Picks. Two things set these picks apart from all others, and they’re both a direct result of his carefully honed treatment process. The first thing is an aggressive, crunchy attack thanks to the unique shape of its edge. The second thing is the grip-enhancing matte surface. It’s a grip in function but not in form, with just enough texture to keep the pick in your hand while leaving the surface flat and unobtrusive.
Tortex Picks also feature a fully color-coded gauge system with a bright and timeless palette that has become an industry standard. This palette has become a visual shorthand for guitar players. All you have to do is go into any music store and ask for green picks—chances are, you’ll be shown a pack of Tortex .88mm Picks.
