There will be dozens of paintings and hand crafted items on the auction block for the Station House Gallery’s Party Like It’s 1929 Station House Express fundraising benefit.
The event is set for Friday, April 8 starting at 7 p.m. and includes 1920s themed light appetizers, a wine and beer bar, live music, prizes for best 1920s costumes and two different auctions.
Among other things the blind auction includes a shetland wool blanket created by Jane Perry and paintings by noted local artists such as Lynda Sawyer, Gladys Wheatley, and the late Sonia Cornwall, Vivien Cornwall, and Hazel Henry.
“The blind auction is when folks put a bid into an opaque jar not knowing what the other bids are and we look through bids and highest takes it,” says gallery manager Diane Toop.
Among the items donated for the silent auction are a handwoven cotton memory blanket by Jane Perry; large woven rush basket by Debbie Lloyd; oven bakers by potters Judi Prevost and Bev Pemberton; silver jewellery by Steve Doucette; and a salmon sculpture by Creekside Pottery.
There are also many other silent auction items donated from the community including Good Banjo earrings and a vinyl record of their album Long Gone Out West Blues North from Pharis and Jason Romero; a Kyrgyzstan rug donated by Maureen LeBourdais; gift certificates from Chances Signal Point Restaurant and Windsor Plywood; an art package from Liz Derksen; and a ladies’ coat and scarf donated by Just Because and many more items.
Musicians will include the Cabaret Dixie Band, Brian Sawyer, Carmen Mutschele, Brent Morton and Ciel Patenaude, as well as the vocal trio Synergy.
Participants are invited to dress sharp in 1920s style as there will be prizes for the best attire, Toop says.
Part of the fundraising will include a 1920’s photo studio where people can have their picture taken by a professional photographer in their period costumes.
The evening will include the opening reception for two fantastic exhibitions, Toop adds.
All Aboard, a group show in the main gallery, features artistic creations dedicated to the Station House. Upstairs Absent Reverie features the work of Rhandi Sandford.
Advance tickets are $25 and available at the Station House Gallery gift shop. The gallery society continues to welcome donations of auction items.
“Don’t forget it’s a fundraiser, Toop says. “Get into the era and party like it’s 1929, before the market crashed that is.”