Regent Howard Rosenberg was auctioneer for “Show Us What You Got, Show Us Your Love! The 9th Biennial Valentine Invitational Exhibition and Auction 2008,” at the Sheppard Art Gallery, Feb. 8, to raise funds for future exhibition programming, artist residency expenses, and catalog production.
“It’s a fun, lighthearted event in which artists create diverse representations of the Valentine’s theme across many mediums so there’s something for everyone,” said Marjorie Vecchio, Sheppard Art Gallery director.
The auction featured special installations by students and recent graduates Rob Brown, Tony Alston, Omar Pierce, Caedron Burchfield and Devin Hosselkus and 94 local artists.
In the minutes counting down to the close of the first silent auction item, Regent Howard Rosenberg upped the ante by promising the winner two round-trip tickets to Cozumel for the weekend – with him. It worked. Bids and enthusiasm began climbing and kept the crowd of approximately 500 engaged throughout the three-hour auction.
Each of the pieces sold for amounts ranging from $45 to $630. Christine Fey, City of Reno Arts and Culture director walked away with the evening’s most expensive piece by Larry Williamson titled “Hearts O’ Plenty.”
An additional $450 was raised in the evening’s raffle, more than three times the amount raised in 2006.
The gallery offered the final opportunity to purchase a limited edition print, featuring artist Michael Sarich, whose exhibit “Like, Love, Lust: Michael Sarich” opened at the Nevada Museum of Art, Jan. 26. The exhibit closes March 30.
“Our goal is for everyone to have a great time at the Valentine’s auction,” Vecchio said. “We bring together collectors from the community and across campus, artists, students, faculty, and volunteers. It’s a great mix.”
Food and beverages were donated by Nothing Bundt Cakes, Bibo Coffee, Great Basin Brewery, Silver and Blue Catering and L'uva Bella Wine Gallery.
The gallery closed following the auction to complete installation for the next exhibit by Walker and Walker, identical twins and collaborative partners. Joe Walker and Pat Walker, will mount their first American West solo exhibition, which includes sculpture, film and mixed-media. Their show opens to the public, Feb. 28.
Walker and Walker represented their native Ireland in the 51st Venice Biennale International Art Exposition.
Their imagery focuses on landscape as the space for man's projected soul searching, a complimentary subject matter for Northern Nevada. Walker and Walker research and consider the allegorical opposites of darkness and light and the Romantic interpretation of the sublime as a passion best aroused by uncertainty.
