Benches were a hot item Sunday evening for the scrupulous shopper in Wayne County. Artists, who transformed what would be merely useful place to sit into masterpieces, brought high acclaim as bidders competed to have one.
In all, the 53 benches that were involved in the 2008 summer arts project of the Wayne County Arts Alliance, brought in approximately $14,830. The auction was held at the Honesdale High School cafeteria, with Bob Mermell as the auctioneer.
That figure was the gross amount, before expenses, which involve in part the cost of the bench and advertising. Proceeds go to benefit the furtherance of the arts in Wayne County and is the major fund raiser of the year for the Alliance, said Alliance Director Tamara Murray.
She expressed gratefulness for the community support again showed for the arts. In addition to the auction, she noted the support given by the many businesses willing to have a bench displayed in front of their premises since Memorial Day Weekend.
The amount raised was a bit down, she noted. Last year they auctioned 75 decorated clocks, and had a net result of about $17,000. She speculated that the state of the economy, or perhaps other functions the same evening keeping away some potential bidders, may have been factors.
Successful bids ranged from $50 to $700. Murray said there were three business that each bought several benches. They are the Trackside Grill, Top Notch Distributors and the business concern of Jim Longo and John Waltole. These men have purchased the former Independent building at 742 Main Street, where the Arts Alliance has offices on the second floor.
Murray said that Longo and Waltole have exciting plans for the building, who want to create an arts and cultural center. Restorations have begun. She said the Arts Alliance, which is a separate entity, will be glad for gallery space in the building when it is done. The Arts Alliance also hopes to be able to have arts classes and writers’ classes there.
The summer arts street project began with sculptured deer, and later had Adirondack chairs, bird houses and clocks. Murray said a final decision hasn’t been made, but two top ideas for the 2009 project are flower boxes or mail boxes.
Coming up for the Wayne County Arts Alliance is the Annual Writers Conference, Saturday, October 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Falls Port Inn, Hawley.
For more information on the not-for-profit Wayne County Arts Alliance, call (570)253-6850 or visit online, www.waynecountyartsalliance.org.
|
|
|
Benches were a hot item Sunday evening for the scrupulous shopper in Wayne County. Artists, who transformed what would be merely useful place to sit into masterpieces, brought high acclaim as bidders competed to have one.
In all, the 53 benches that were involved in the 2008 summer arts project of the Wayne County Arts Alliance, brought in approximately $14,830. The auction was held at the Honesdale High School cafeteria, with Bob Mermell as the auctioneer.
That figure was the gross amount, before expenses, which involve in part the cost of the bench and advertising. Proceeds go to benefit the furtherance of the arts in Wayne County and is the major fund raiser of the year for the Alliance, said Alliance Director Tamara Murray.
She expressed gratefulness for the community support again showed for the arts. In addition to the auction, she noted the support given by the many businesses willing to have a bench displayed in front of their premises since Memorial Day Weekend.
The amount raised was a bit down, she noted. Last year they auctioned 75 decorated clocks, and had a net result of about $17,000. She speculated that the state of the economy, or perhaps other functions the same evening keeping away some potential bidders, may have been factors.
Successful bids ranged from $50 to $700. Murray said there were three business that each bought several benches. They are the Trackside Grill, Top Notch Distributors and the business concern of Jim Longo and John Waltole. These men have purchased the former Independent building at 742 Main Street, where the Arts Alliance has offices on the second floor.
Murray said that Longo and Waltole have exciting plans for the building, who want to create an arts and cultural center. Restorations have begun. She said the Arts Alliance, which is a separate entity, will be glad for gallery space in the building when it is done. The Arts Alliance also hopes to be able to have arts classes and writers’ classes there.
The summer arts street project began with sculptured deer, and later had Adirondack chairs, bird houses and clocks. Murray said a final decision hasn’t been made, but two top ideas for the 2009 project are flower boxes or mail boxes.
Coming up for the Wayne County Arts Alliance is the Annual Writers Conference, Saturday, October 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Falls Port Inn, Hawley.
For more information on the not-for-profit Wayne County Arts Alliance, call (570)253-6850 or visit online, www.waynecountyartsalliance.org.
