July 15, 2014
A lot of community spirit and thousands of dollars were raised at this year’s annual art auction to benefit the historic Orr’s Island Schoolhouse.
A lot of community spirit and thousands of dollars were raised at this year’s annual art auction to benefit the historic Orr’s Island Schoolhouse.
Dozens of works of art, ranging from paintings and photographs to carvings and jewelry, were sold at the annual event. About 75 people attended and provided spirited bidding on items donated by local artists for the fund-raiser, held July 5 at the schoolhouse on Harpswell Islands Road, Route 24
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| Bidders check out the artwork prior to the auction. |
The artwork included a series of old-style wooden lobster buoys which were distributed by auction organizers to area artists, who transformed them into unique pieces of art.
“The creativity shown by our local artists with the buoys was amazing,” said Venise Minkowsky, who organized the auction. “We are very fortunate to have so many talented people in our community who are willing to donate their time and abilities to help us preserve such an important part of our local history.”
A buoy carved by Brad McFadden of Orr’s Island proved to be the most valuable item sold at the auction. The buoy, transformed into a realistic-looking lobster, sold for $1,000 following some enthusiastic bidding. It was the second year in a row a work by McFadden generated the most money at the event.
Other top bids included $525 for “Seal,” an oil painting by Doug Bane; $300 for “Puffin Watch,” a silkscreen by T. Tryson; $280 for a carved Sanderling bird by McFadden; $200 for “Fog Lifting, Newfoundland,” a watercolor by Margaret Leonard; $130 for “Purple Buoys,” a watercolor by Jan Roberson; and $120 for “Girl with Goldfish Balloon,” a digital print by Jeff McCreight.
Top sellers among the lobster buoys included $280 for “Lobster with Own Butter” by Tom Brudzinski; $210 for “Lobster Roll” by Maureen Anthoine-Orlandini; $205 for “Pineapple” by Jeff McCreight; and $200 for “Painting of Lowell Cove” by Patricia Fuchs.
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| Brad McFadden's lobster buoy. |
All winning bids totaled nearly $7,000, which yielded more than $5,500 for the schoolhouse after expenses and commissions paid to some of the artists. The money is used for maintenance and improvements to the building, such as new air conditioning which kept everyone cool and comfortable for the auction on a warm summer evening.
Participating artists in this year’s event included Margaret Leonard, Kimball Page, Jan Roberson, Sharon Bond, KDB, Doug Bane, Jeff McCreight, Tim McCreight, Barbara Wiltshire, Patricia Fuchs, Bill Tomsa, Scott Minkowsky and Tom Brudzinski.
The lobster buoys were provided by Doug Bane, Steve Black, Tom Brudzinski, Patricia Fuchs, Emily Leonard Trenholm, Brad McFadden, Maureen Anthoine-Orlandini, Jeff McCreight, Tim McCreight, and Patrick Regan.
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Auctioneer Ed Blain, left, and Tim McCreight drum up bids. |
In addition, local lobstermen Dave Johnson, Al Johnson, and Bob Wilson provided buoys painted with their own colors, which sold for more than $100 each.
Ed Blain, chief of the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department, once again served as auctioneer at the event.An important part of Harpswell history, the building was originally a two-room school for island children. Now used for a variety of community, public and private events, the schoolhouse is self-supporting, depending on income from event rentals, fund raisers and donations to maintain the building and grounds. It is managed by the adjacent Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Department.
For more information about the schoolhouse, or to inquire about rentals, please contact Venise Minkowsky at 833-7386 or visit orrsislandschoolhouse.com.