Are you looking to start an art collection? Maybe you need that perfect piece to finish it off? Or even one to complement (or take the focus off) your copy of Keith’s Green Martini masterpiece.
Whatever the case, if you’re in the mood for something bright and flashy to hang on the living room wall then the 3rd annual Paint the Town Art Auction is the place to be.
Not only will you be getting a colorful creation to put next to that framed picture of our Insider column mug, but you’ll also be helping out a good cause. Don’t worry, it’s okay if you idolize us.
The proceeds from the auction will go directly to the Kimball-Jenkins School of Art, where the auction will be held on the evening of Sept. 12, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The money raised, which stands at around $65,000 through the first two years, goes to student scholarships for children and teens, as well as to help offset the costs of classes and camps for all students. That’s how we got to make Insider Man during Fantasy Week this summer. Thanks, everybody.
“We’re hoping to at least reach the $35,000 from last year,” said Karina Kelley, vice president of the Kimball-Jenkins board of directors. “The end goal is to raise money for the school, but it’s also to showcase the school.”
With more than 50 pieces to choose from, there’s surely something for everybody. From oil to watercolors, and photographs to etchings, each one is ready for a new home of admirers. Now it’s up to you to make the right bid.
Some of the artists work at the Kimby-Jenks estate, others are students at the school. Many live in the Concord area, while the rest come from New Hampshire and the remaining New England states.
“Generally a lot of the people involved in planning the event are tied in with the art community,” said Kelley.
One of those artists who rents space at Kimball-Jenkins, Chris Pothier, will be painting a landscape of the Horseshoe Pond area in the mansion during the event, and it will be auctioned off at the end of the night.
“We hope this painting will generate some revenue for the estate,” Pothier said.
Pothier has done this type of thing during classes he has taught and was even hired once to paint at a wedding, so it’s an experience he’s quite comfortable with. And just to be clear, Pothier will technically be finishing the piece and not doing the whole thing that night.
“To do something that large in three hours is nearly impossible,” Pothier said.
The whole point of the exhibition is to show non-artists what it’s like to be an artist.
“Most people don’t know what goes into a painting, so it’s great to show the process,” Pothier said.
So if you’re wondering how it all works, let us be your guide. We are the Insiders, after all. The first step is to buy a ticket. It costs $30 and tickets can either be purchased online (biddingforgood.com/auction/AuctionHome.action?vhost=kimballjenkins) or at the door. CYPN members can get in for a cheaper price of $25, but that’s just because they’re kind of special. Once you’ve decided to attend, go to that same website above and look at all the auction items. In addition to the painted art, there are things like a private home and art collection tour with Mary McGowan, jewelry and pottery, and tours of Moonlight Meadery in Londonderry and Zorvino Vineyards in Sandown.
“It’s great if people want to start bidding, but most people use it to view what’s available,” Kelley said.
And one of the pieces has an interesting story behind it. Michael Garlington had a solo show at the Jenks in 2009 and right after the opening, a burglary resulted in 14 of his 20 photographs being stolen. The only one recovered, Fish Mongers Daughter, was just recently released from police evidence, so Garlington donated it to the auction. And now you can buy it and take it home without the fear of being caught up in a police investigation.
“He said we could keep it and auction it off,” Kelley said.
You can either make a bid on the website until Sept. 9, outright buy it for a certain price or wait until the night of the auction. The auction is of the silent variety, so any of you looking to hold up that fancy paddle will have to do it in your mirror prior to going.
“It’s kind of like eBay,” Kelley said of the online bidding. “You can buy it now or put a bid on it.”
The night will be broken down into three different auctions to give people a chance to bid on a second favorite if their bid is not the winner for their first choice. The art will be hanging in both the Carriage House and the mansion, and there will be plenty of time to check things out live and in color.
There will also be a tent outside where beer, wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served complimentary.
For more info, check out the Kimball-Jenkins website, kimballjenkins.com, or the website we already told you about.
