Finally, the long-anticipated day has arrived! All the artCentral galleries are fabulously filled with amazing art! Hyde House is vibrating with excitement! Friday, 2 October 2020, is the day for two OPENING CELEBRATIONS.
At high noon at 1110 East Thirteenth Street in Carthage artCentral’s vibrant green door will open to reveal two collections of totally enchanting art. Be the first to come and see and savor these two visual feasts presented in INA NIDAY & MARY DATUM | TWO FRIENDS | OIL PAINTINGS and SMALL WORKS | GREAT WONDERS Silent Auction Fundraiser.
About dusk on October 2nd the really big celebrations begin! From 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. artCentral’s Curator and Prepitor, Alice Lynn and David Greenwood-Mathé will be joined by artCentral board member and artist, Jason Shelfer. Live on Facebook at ArtCentralCarthage from the galleries of Hyde House they will give you a tour of the both Ina and Mary’s exhibition and the Silent Auction, as well.
Ina Niday’s and Mary Datum’s collection showcases more than one hundred beautiful paintings created in oil. All are available for purchase the night of the Opening Celebration. You can call or comment in the live stream anytime during the online tour. The entire collection, including Ina’s vintage tin ornaments and gift cards, can be previewed beforehand or during the Opening Celebration at artCentral’s website (https://www.artcentralcarthage.org/events.html) and artCentral’s Facebook page (ArtCentralCarthage) where you will find all the images in two photo albums.
The SMALL WORKS | GREAT WONDERS Silent Auction features sixty artCentral artist-created 5×7 canvases which they have donated to help raise funds to support artCentral’s work for art and artists. Many opening bids are set at a pocket-friendly ten dollars. First bids may be placed when the gallery opens on Friday, 2 October, at noon.
Each work is unique and special. They include images of flowers and barns and landscapes; a gathering of shawl-wrapped women, an assortment of birds and a mermaid with her consort; a collection of embellished hearts and a tell-tale heart; a colorful dog and a colorful frog; a mellow-faced calf, a feline in the wild and an artistic mouse; a looping biplane and a famous artist; and a photo printed on metal of a sunrise that will take your breath away. There are a pair of hand wrought dangling silver earrings and abstracts both textured and whimsical, too. There is a Dan Trogdon original cartoon that will certainly tickle your funny bone. Several canvases offer images inspired by the holiday season.
Again for this 2020 Silent Auction Fundraiser native son and local artist hero, Andy Thomas, has somehow found the time to create yet another exquisite intimate donation. “Freedom” is the title of this watercolor painting masterfully rendered as is every work that comes out of Andy’s studio. Strutting as though high-stepping across the picture plane, back dropped with a lush green forest, a singular turkey is colorfully, brilliantly painted with Andy’s signature panache.
Knowing about Andy’s current, ambitious undertaking, the new mural honoring famous Carthaginians that will soon brighten the historic downtown square, I felt quite timid when I first reached out to Andy’s wife and agent, Dina Thomas. As always Dina graciously listened as I pitched my request for Andy to make a donation this year as he has so generously done in past years for past fundraisers. I held my breath and missed a wink or two of sleep as I awaited Andy’s response. Thankfully, his answer, “Yes,” was quickly forthcoming. Now I can relax: a masterwork is once again in Hyde House waiting for you to carry home. The opening bid is set at $300.00. The “Buy Now” bid is $1,800.00. Will you be the fortunate patron who snatches up this prize?
Be sure to tune in October 2 at 6:00 p.m. for the two Opening Celebrations where you can view all the art in real time, ask questions, begin your bidding and make initial purchases. Tune in at the end of the Exhibition and Auction on Saturday, December 5, to view the art, shop and purchase your favorites and place your winning bids!
October 2-December 5, Weekend Gallery Hours are each Friday and Saturday from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. with CDC protocols practiced at artCentral. Face masks and social distancing are required for everyone entering Hyde House. Please help us keep each other safe and healthy and ready for the coming celebrations!
