Art Auction to Benefit Library - Sat May 28th

This Saturday, May 28, the Phoenicia Library Association is holding a silent auction of art donated by dozens of artists to help raise money for rebuilding of the fire-devastated library building. The artworks will be on display at the Emerson Resort and Spa in Mt. Tremper beginning Sunday, May 22, from 10 until 6, and the final bidding on the silent auction will occur on Saturday, May 28 from 3 – 5:30, accompanied by a reception with wine and fine finger food. The auction will include works by national award winners such as Brenda Goodman, Joan Snyder, Mary Frank, Jeff Jacobson and Dennis Stock as well as artists seen more often at local galleries such as The Arts Upstairs and Cabane Studios. Estimated selling prices range from $20 to $2,000, so there will be something for everyone’s pocketbook, and a wide variety of subjects and styles to choose from as well.

Artists contributing works include Jose Acosta, Loel Barr, Joel Benton, Kurt Boyer, Andrea Cabane, Dave Channon, Joe Concra, Glenn deWitt, Bonnie Diana, Bronson Eden, Lynn Fliegel, Stacie Flint, Mary Frank, Jeannie Friedman, Patti Gibbons, Brenda Goodman, Wendy Grossman, Hot Mud Studio, Hot Stuff Blown Glass, Jeff Jacobson, David Jeffery, Lucinda Knaus, Polly Law, John Daido Loori Roshi, Kate McGloughlin, Richard Morris, Denise Orzo, Margaret Owen, Linda Peer, Christie Scheele, Judith Singer, Joan Snyder, Michelle Spark, Dennis Stock, Anique Taylor, Richard Treitner, Elena Zang, and more.

The viewing of the artworks and attendance at the reception are free. The catering is being donated by Marcey Brownstein Catering & Events, and the Emerson is donating the space, tables and linens, and waitstaff. The menu is slated to include rice-stuffed grape leaves, cucumber cup with edamame puree, gorgonzola-stuffed roasted dates, roasted tomato tart tatin, tuna tartare on potato crisp, and more. A private donor is providing the wine.

The auction is one of a series of events to raise funds to help rebuild the library. An electrical fire in the early hours of March 19 damaged the Library’s structure and destroyed nearly all of the contents of the building. Computers melted, furniture burned, and the library’s entire collection of 13,000+ books, DVDs, etc., fly-fishing memorabilia, historical documents were all rendered unusable by fire, water, or toxic smoke. The building and contents were insured, but the costs of complying with current building codes and other regulations will exceed the insurance proceeds available. The library re-opened in a short-term location at the old Maverick West site only one week later. It now has three new computers available for patron use as well as hundreds of books and DVDs, a number growing every week.