More people than ever will have the opportunity to collect stunning original artwork by artists from the Kawarthas region and beyond at this year’s “It’s All About ART†online auction to benefit the Art Gallery of Peterborough and participating artists.
This is the second year that the annual auction, which opens on Friday November 5 and runs through Saturday November 20, has been held online due to the pandemic – which has some advantages over the traditional in-person gallery auction.
“The online auction is an interesting format and we have a wider reach so we can promote it quite far,†notes Celeste Scopelites, director of the Art Gallery of Peterborough.
This year’s online auction has grown from last year, according to Scopelites. It now includes more than 50 artists, with no restrictions on the size of the works of art being auctioned and with jewelry, ceramics and sculptural pieces also included. Auction participants will find works of art in different sizes, media, and price ranges to bid on.
In addition to works of art, the Gallery always offers unique art-related experiences on the auction block. For example, you can bid to win a behind-the-scenes tour with Gallery curator Fynn Leitch. Another experience allows you to curate an exhibition in the Museum’s permanent collection.
“We’ve been offering it for a few years and it’s been very successful,†says Scopelites. “This is the opportunity to enter the vault with our curator and to select a theme and a volume of works of art for this exhibition. It is a unique experience.
This year, the glass and stone sculptor Christy Haldane is auctioning a workshop in her studio. Haldane works with recycled window glass and other building materials, such as stone, to create minimalist and modern sculptures that take into account humanity’s effect on the environment.
Before the auction opens on November 5, you can preview some of this year’s artwork on the Peterborough Art Gallery website at agp.on.ca/events-listing-page/its-all-about-art/, where the images of the works of art are continuously uploaded.
If you’d like to see the works in person to confirm your favorites, the Peterborough Art Gallery is hosting a preview exhibition which opened on Thursday, October 21. The Gallery is open by appointment between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Thursday to Sunday. To reserve your preferred date and time of visit, call the Gallery at 705-743-9179. For more information visit agp.on.ca/about/hours-admission/.
According to Scopelites, the last night of the online auction – the auction ends at 9 p.m. on November 20 – will be exciting as there is a flurry of auctions in the last few minutes.
“It’s an exciting time, just like at a live auction,†says Scopelites.
The auction is a major annual fundraiser for the Peterborough Art Gallery and also significantly supports artists. Half of the hammer price of each auction item goes to the artist and the other half supports the Gallery’s programming which brings inspiring and insightful contemporary art and education to the Peterborough community.
This year’s auction fundraising is particularly important given the impacts of the pandemic. Artists and arts organizations like the Art Gallery of Peterborough have faced challenges, including the cancellation of programs and in-person exhibitions.
“It goes without saying that the arts sector has been badly affected,†says Scopelites. “Any way we can support programs and opportunities is welcome, and it makes a huge difference. We need to have art around us.
The Peterborough Art Gallery is also supported by contributions from members and donors as well as corporate sponsorships. George Ripoll of BMO Private Wealth is the presenting sponsor of this year’s “It’s All About ART†online auction, with LLF Lawyers the event sponsor and Ashburnham Realty, Electric City Real Estate (Linz Hunt & Company) and Slayer AI host sponsors. The auction sponsors are Generation Solar, Sentry Health and TD Wealth Management, with WeDesign providing in-kind support.
“Sponsorships help us do what we do here at the Gallery because, despite the pandemic, we have so many free online programs and opportunities,†says Scopelites. “We really appreciate the support from our sponsors as we embark on this fundraiser. ”
Of course, an art auction is not possible without the talent and generosity of the many participating artists.
“We are grateful to the artists we have in our community and we really appreciate the supportive relationship they have with the art gallery,†says Scopelites.
To learn more about the ‘It’s All About ART’ online auction, including a link to the auction portal when it goes live, visit the Peterborough Art Gallery website at address agp.on.ca/events-listing-page/its-all-about-art/. For updates, you can also follow the Gallery on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
This story was created in partnership with the Peterborough Art Gallery.