April 21, 2014
Area artists are again being invited to participate in An Evening of Art to benefit the old Orr's Island Schoolhouse.
The fourth annual auction of high-quality art and crafts will be held on Saturday, July 5, at the schoolhouse, located on Harpswell Islands Road, Route 24, in Orr's Island.
Artists who work in any type of medium – including paintings, prints, photographs, jewelry, woodwork, textiles, ceramics, furniture, ironwork, glass and more – are invited to contribute their original work to this year's event. Local art collectors are asked to consider donating items from their collections to benefit the schoolhouse.
The fourth annual auction of high-quality art and crafts will be held on Saturday, July 5, at the schoolhouse, located on Harpswell Islands Road, Route 24, in Orr's Island.
Artists who work in any type of medium – including paintings, prints, photographs, jewelry, woodwork, textiles, ceramics, furniture, ironwork, glass and more – are invited to contribute their original work to this year's event. Local art collectors are asked to consider donating items from their collections to benefit the schoolhouse.
Artists participating in the auction can set a minimum bid for their work and opt to keep a portion, or commission, of the selling price.
Last year’s event featured lunch boxes decorated with a variety of designs which were quite popular with buyers. This year, the organizers will invite a dozen artists to take and decorate blank, iconic lobster buoys with themes of their choosing.
All artwork for the event will be needed by June 25.
“We call it ‘An Evening of Art’ because we see it as a social event,” said Venise Minkowsky, chair of the Schoolhouse Committee of the Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Department, which manages the building.
“It's a wonderful evening spent with friends, neighbors and visitors,” Minkowsky said. “It’s a great time for the community to get together in support of a very important historic building.”
An important part of Harpswell history, the old schoolhouse was originally a two-room school for island children. Located next to the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department main station, the renovated building is used for a variety of community, public and private events. The schoolhouse is self-supporting, depending on income from event rentals, fundraisers and donations to maintain the building and grounds.
A large, spirited crowd attended last year’s event, which raised more than $7,000.
This year’s auction will be held on Saturday, July 5, from 7 to 9 p.m. with preview beginning at 6 p.m. Light hors d'oeuvres, desserts, soda and wine will be served.
For more information, please contact Venise Minkowsky at 833-7386, or Tim McCreight at 761-8217, or email artauction@orrsislandschoolhouse.com.