Laura Nation-Atchison/The Daily Home
A collection of paintings and pottery will be auctioned during Heritage Hall Museum’s first “Southern Soiree” Friday, Sept. 17 at the museum. The pieces in the auction were made during Arts Camp this year and proceeds will be used for Arts Camp supplies and scholarships.
There’s a pair of crazy crows perched atop a scarecrow and a bright blue crab painted in dots making his way across the beach.
These are just a few of the items among those set for the first ever “Southern Soiree” art auction at Heritage Hall Museum, which includes food and drinks and live bluegrass as well.
The selection of art is fitting for the cause, the sale will benefit the museum’s summer Arts Camp or kids, where the pieces were made this summer.
Money will be used for both supplies and programs as well as to offer scholarship for camp for youngsters who need help with fees for camp.
There are about 35 paintings and pieces of pottery slated for the event, which will be held at the museum Friday, Sept. 17 starting at 6:30 p.m.
All bidding will be done using a silent auction process, and bidding will end at 8 p.m., said Tommy Moorehead, artist in residence for the museum.
With plenty of help on hand for this year’s Arts Camp, Moorehead put about half the student assistants on the project to create the offerings for the auction, with himself and artist Russell Everett overseeing.
Pottery in the collection was designed as usable art, with the group focusing on large urns created to be used as outdoor planters.
The auction is for museum members only, organized as a once a year special occasion held to thank those who support the museum and urge others to join as well, Moorehead said.
A membership drive is continuing at the museum, and joining prior to or on the evening of the auction is all it takes to be part of it.
Individual membership is $25 a year, family membership is $35, business membership is $100 and corporate membership, $500. Student memberships are available for $15.
Members of the museum receive notice and invitations to receptions for exhibiting artists, become part of the network of museums across the country participating in the North American Reciprocal Museum Association which provides discounts and special offers in cities throughout the country at museums that include Atlanta’s High Museum of Art; the Kentuck Museum in Northport, Ala.; and the Birmingham Museum of Art; among hundreds of other museums.
Members also receive a 10 percent discount on items in the museum’s new gift shop. The shop offers pieces of local art ranging from pottery to jewelry, along with photographs, glass art and books.
Benefits to membership also include knowing you’re part of a group of people supporting an impressive variety of arts opportunities in the community, Moorehead said.
“Most cities our size don’t have what we have here,” he said. “We have had national touring exhibits, hosted exhibits for internationally reputed artists and our permanent collection is one to be very proud of,” Moorehead said.
The collection of fine art includes hundreds of old photographs taken through the years, recording the area’s history and its people. The photographs have been stored digitally at the museum to preserve them.
Arts Camp has offered exposure to the visual and theatre arts, music and dance for 20 years now, and helps to enhance the education and experiences of the area’s youth, Moorehead said.
“We know it’s important for young people to have this exposure and the opportunity to develop their own creativity,” he said. “It has been our goal to provide that and to supplement what is available in our schools.”
