Collectors Auction Preview: "All About Art"

For the auction: John L. Cleaveland Jr., View from Montefaucon, the Argonne France (n.d.).
Oil on panel, 13 x 15 inches, framed.

Every other year, the museum’s Collectors group (an upper-level membership group within the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art) organizes a fabulous evening of food, fun and fundraising, the proceeds from which go toward enriching the museum’s collection. This April 23 brings “All About Art,” the latest version of the event. Chaired by Greg Barnard, the new head of the Collectors, the event gets started at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails and a silent auction at the museum, followed by dinner catered by Epting Events.

For the auction: Robert Clements, Summer Meadow (2012).
Acrylic, 24 x 30 inches, framed.

Barnard says the theme reflects the evening’s purpose: “It’s all about acquiring art for the museum and, by extension, for the state of Georgia and its residents — us, in other words.” Previous auctions have led to the purchase of works on prominent display in the museum’s permanent collection galleries, from the early Georgia portrait of William Harris Crawford to the Dorothy Dehner sculpture that joined the collection in 2014.

Barnard says, “In addition to notable works of art — paintings, drawings, photography, prints and sculpture — by both area and non-area artists, the auction will feature fashion accessories, contemporary and antique furnishings and decor, entertainment opportunities such as catered dinners and restaurant meals and personal ‘get-away’ experiences such as spa treatments.”

For the auction: Carol John, Turquoise Chrysanthemum (2015). Oil on canvas, 60 x 48 inches.

Randy Ott, a member of the museum’s Board of Advisors and a notable collector of fine art, has donated two paintings by Henry L. Roecker to the auction. June Ball, another board member and well-known artist who recently had a large work commissioned by Georgia Council for the Arts, has donated one of her own oil paintings, as has acclaimed Athens artist Carol John, whose work is in the collection of the High Museum of Art.

Heirloom Café and artist Susie Burch have donated a farmers’ market tour and four-course lunch or supper for eight people, including wine pairings, to be held in Susie’s studio, which houses portraits of local farmers. Epting Events has contributed a period dinner for a group of people at The Hill, Lee Epting’s beautiful hideaway event space in Athens. Last Resort Grill has donated a $100 gift certificate, and many more donations are still coming in.

This year, sponsors at the $1,000 level are entitled not only to four tickets to the event, but also to priority auction check-out at the end of the evening and an exclusive cocktail-hour preview starting at 5:30 p.m., with a “buy-it-now” option for auction items.

For the auction: Margie Spalding, French Bottle and Lady Apples (n.d.). Oil, 9 x 12 inches, framed.

Ticket information:

Members of Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art: $100/person, nonmembers: $125/person.

To purchase tickets or to sponsor the event, visit http://bit.ly/collectors-auction16.

It’s not too late to become a member! For more information, visit http://georgiamuseum.org/join, or call 706.542.0830 or email jointhemuseum@uga.edu.