Friday, May 28, 2010

Charity Auction success

We attended the Cancer Council fundraising auction at Main St Gallery in Montville yesterday.  It was slightly stressful I must say...there is nothing worse than standing around whilst people decide whether or not your art work is worth bidding on...and then deciding how much it's worth in a public forum.

As most folk know there has been a general slowing down of art purchasing.  For whatever reasons, people's discretionary spending is being impacted upon, and of course art is one of those things that isn't a real necessity for many people.  This made the auction environment slightly more stressful as well I think. Even tho it was for charity, it is still a bit hard to separate the personal from the purpose.

Oh my goodness, it's sounding all about me and I am making it sound all doom and gloom and it wasn't - but it was certainly a new and different experience for me, and these were my reflections.

Both Barry and I sold our pieces for above their reserves which was great. I am happy that we therefore donated funds to the cause as well as purchasing a couple of small pieces. The best news was that by the end of the auction along with donations and raffle tickets, Kim had raised around $7000 to donate to cancer research. Well done Kim - it was an amazing effort.

Here are Barry's teapot and mine on display...

3 comments:

  1. it is so disconcerting to donate art and then watch it sell for far less than what it would sell in a gallery. I just donated a large piece and was shocked at the bargain the buyer got! quite depressed to know.. your piece was just awesome, but I don't go to these if I can help it, it is quite uncomfortable isn't it??

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  2. Auctions are hard to be at if you have a piece in it-- I know because I have been in several this year- but I love your tea pot- very creative.

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  3. Its comforting to hear such talented artists have felt the same way. Openings and solo exhibitions are one way of putting ourselves and our inner thoughts and creations 'out there'; but the auction approach was a whole different thing again! Thanks for sharing

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