Sunday, April 9, 2017
Alzheimers Association Auction a grand success!
Alzheimers Association Auction a grand success!
The Maverix Studios gallery was packed and buzzing with art marketplace energy and noise. Can you spot a very happy Ted Mathot in this picture? A visiting Simon Dunsdon? Mike Murnane is in costume somewhere here as well.
Maverix Studios held the art auction last night in the city and although all these auctions are a blast we had an especially thrilling night. Cutting to the chase: Steve Purcells piece, "Ditty" went for the highest bid of the evening. Brenda Chapman had won it on the paper bid but, as it is the fashion at Maverix, it went up for the grand audience bid along with eight other highest bid items. Brenda dueled fast and furious with another lady starting at $400, and quickly escalated to beyond a thousand...Two Thousand!...Three! It all culminated in Brenda winning the piece at $3, 500! Whew! That was amazing!
A very happy Brenda Chapman chatting with Brian and Lorien McKenna about a certain Inhuman.
This is the closest to high stakes gambling Ill ever get myself. Once youre in the room and have been battling with others to secure artwork on the silent bid youre already quite a bit pumped up. And the best part is that youre amongst colleagues, friends and family.
From the top: Mike Murnane as Auctioneer Supreme and MC Derek Thompson. Those guys know how to work a crowd out their hard-earned bucks for a good cause. Albert Lozano, world class DJ to the starz--also mild mannered artist/designer at Pixar. Anita Coulter eyes Crystal on the wall. Center and bottom is the Hall o Art and lovely art-lovin folks.
I had my eye on Rhode Montijos two original pieces from the start. I took my time bidding on this one inked piece. I knew it was going up for the public bid because it was up to around $250 by the time silent bidding closed. Jamie Baker, whos already like blood brothers with Rhode bid on it right off, then Bosco Ng jumped in. I just watched as they battled and it reached to $425. I was standing right next to Bosco as Mike Murnane stoked the fires of battle with his inimitable autioneer stylings.
Anita Coulter holding up a magnificent print by the equally lovely Sho Murase. That baby went for five hundred bucks. Good job, everyone. The circled art were next. Mine at center (Crystal) and Steve Purcells record-breaking art.
I raised my hand and flashed five fingers. Oh! That did it, blindsided my pals. Theres a trick to this and you gotta wait till the players are losing their will and even maybe even needing to be saved from themselves--though clearly not the case here but I sure did end up winning my very first Rhode Montijo original art! After four years of waiting I finally got one! HA HA!
Rhode Montijo loveliness here. Already safe at home.
The other highlight for me was securing Jeff Pigeons "Happy Beaver" toy he donated for the cause. Signed as Derek Thompson puts it, "Right on its a**" Ive been meaning to get one but this is the best time to do it.
Jeff Pidgeon did all of us a favor and made a toy. And I just love it ta pieces! Look at that orange molded goodness. Hmmmm--mmmh!
My contribution to the auction was original art: "Crystal of the Inhumans." This was also one of the highest bids of the evening. Brenda had bid on both Steve and mines hoping to get both but Derek Thompson wanted it as well, even so far as to playfully intimidating the crowd, "If you dont know who the Inhumans are you shouldnt even be bidding but this is for a good cause so its all good."
Brian is likely talking to Lorien about..."What?! Enough with the Inhumans already! Sheesh."
Derek and Brenda battled, Mike egged and taunted the players and eventually Brenda let Derek win the piece for the high bid of $700! Whoa! That is crazy. I wanted a Derek monster myself. But that will have to be for another auction day.
"Crystal of the Inhumans" is watercolor, pen and pencil. I scanned this before I signed and framed it for the auction.
Congratulations to all who attended and my thanks to Esther Pearl and Nate Stanton for putting this together, Maverix for having the boundless energy and giving soul to have us use their wonderful space yet again. We hope to have another one of these things before the year is done and this time were going to be even more ambitious! So, watch this space.
Alzheimers Association
Maverix Studios
Maverix Studios Blog
UPDATE! The great Carlos Baena has posted his magnificent photos of the evening. Check them out here.
Jamie Bakers got an excellent report from his vantage point here.
Available link for download
