Successful Priceless Art Auction returning to Paris next month

Rotary Satellite Club of Paris announces 2nd Annual Silent (and penniless) Auction fundraiser slated for February 23

By Casandra Turnbull

It’s back by popular demand!

The Priceless Art Auction, hosted by the Rotary Satellite Club of Paris, returns to the Wincey Mills next month on February 23.

“We had some incredible feedback (from last year), and almost all of the art from last year was acquired by the winning bidders, so a lot of community service hours were created at our event,” said Dale Hall, a member of the Rotary Satellite Club of Paris.

The event is an art auction like no other. Rather than opening your wallet to acquire some fantastic artistic pieces created by local artists, you open your schedule and dedicate volunteer time to a non-profit organization or group in the community. Once you’ve completed your volunteer hours, the artwork is delivered to you. The only catch is you must volunteer at an organization that you are not already a member of or associated with; otherwise, where you do your time is completely up to you.

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Priceless Art Auction from Left Rotarians, Andrea Clendening, Chris Hazz, President of the Rotary Satellite Club of Paris Dale Hall, President of Brantford Rotary Jason Cherry, District Governor of Rotary Lisa Bishop and Rotarian Emily Miller.

It’s hard not to get lost in this Purple Daze by Artist Natasha Lehman. This 12x12 oil on canvas is available for your bidding February 23rd. Purchase your ticket for the 2nd Annual Priceless Art Auction and then leave your wallet at home, you don’t need cash to bid on your favourite piece of art. Maybe you like to escape to the beach? Artist Allyson Schmidt-Reeves takes you there and it could be yours next month! Follow the Club’s social media page for more artist drops leading up to the event!

Some of the organizations supported during the inaugural auction last January included Brant Tree Coalition, Why Not Youth Services, Salvation Army Food Bank (Brant County) and the Brantford Harlequins RF. A total of 224 volunteer hours were raised and served last year and Hall said the Rotary Club would love to surpass that figure and possibly exceed 250 hours this year “I believe this event will continue to grow and see success because it’s an affordable night out for members of the community, and they’re able to support local artists and support our community in a single effort Art auctions are often for people within a certain income bracket, and we’ve knocked down that barrier,” he told The Paris Independent.

The style of artwork is diverse and includes some very familiar names from the community – Holly O, Britney Traver, Natasha Lehman and Allyson Schmidt-Reeves to name a few. All the artists are sourced by The Taren White Gallery, located in downtown Paris. If you’d like to catch a sneak peak at the artwork already donated for the silent auction, check them out on Instagram (click here)

The fundraiser is sponsored by Millards Chartered professional Accountants, ROI Group and River Realty Team. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, February 23. You can purchase early bird tickets online now for $65.23 (that includes an Eventbrite ticket fee). Ticket price includes entry to the silent auction, appetizers and live music.