Artists Sought For Old Orr's Island Schoolhouse Art Auction

April 25, 2015

Artists are being sought to participate in the fifth annual An Evening of Art to benefit old Orr's Island Schoolhouse.

The auction of unique and high-quality art and crafts will be held on Saturday, July 11, at the schoolhouse, located on Harpswell Islands Road, Route 24, in Orr's Island.

Art for sale at last year's auction.

Artists who work in any type of medium – including paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, jewelry, woodwork, textiles, ceramics, furniture, ironwork, glass and more – are invited to contribute their original creations. Local art collectors are asked to consider donating items from their collections to benefit the schoolhouse.

Participating artists can set a minimum bid for their work and opt to keep a portion of the selling price.

As a special feature this year, artists are being sought to bring their creative talents to several different styles of small birdhouses, which will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Past auctions featured lobster buoys and lunchboxes decorated in a wide variety of themes to create unique pieces of art which were enthusiastically sought by bidders.

Interested artists are asked to contact organizers as soon as possible to receive a birdhouse.

All artwork for the event will be needed by late June.

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 and updating the aging structure.

More than $7,000 was raised for the schoolhouse in each of the past two years.

This year’s auction will be held on Saturday, July 11, 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 Brad McFadden at 833-6940 or Tim McCreight at 761-8217, or email artauction@orrsislandschoolhouse.com.

More information on the schoolhouse is available at www.orrsislandschoolhouse.com.