This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Prichard Art Gallery benefit auction and exhibition. The exhibit opens Friday, and runs until Feb. 11 when the paintings will be sold in an auction.
“Every other year we do a benefit and invite artists we’ve exhibited in the past to donate for the auction,” Gallery Director Roger Rowley said.
Rowley said although the pieces are donated, the gallery offers artists up to 50 percent of their work’s sale price.
“People think it’s easy — that the artist’s time isn’t worth anything, so we offer them a sliding scale,” Rowley said. “Most donate 100 percent, but others would like some back and we are happy to give them something.”
UI graduate Aaron Johnson is donating a piece for the event. His first exhibition was last May, and he plans to receive some money from the auction.
“I’m just getting some back to pay for the frame and supplies,” Johnson said. “It’s a lot less than I get for painting.”
However, Johnson said he thinks the event is worthwhile.
“I think it’s an important thing to support the arts,” Johnson said. “It’s a great gallery space for art in Moscow. You don’t usually have spaces solely dedicated to promote the arts.”
The exhibit will host between 65 and 70 pieces, a few more than it did in 2010. Bidders can register Friday and receive a bidding number.
“The auction is split between a live and silent auction,” Rowley said. “If we did all live auction people would lose interest and stop bidding. This way people have a good time.”
Once registered, bidders can bid on the silent auction items immediately, but have to wait until the live auction for other pieces.
Rowley said the live auction has a $15 admission fee that includes a glass of champagne or sparkling water. There will also be food and a bar at the event.
The auction diverts some of the cost of hosting a large exhibit.
“We usually raise $8,000, but four years ago we raised $14,000,” Rowley said. “Hopefully we will back up toward $14,000 but we’d be happy with $10,000.”
Rowley said each exhibit may cost the gallery between $15,000 and $40,000, depending on shipping costs. While the auction does not pay for an entire exhibit, it helps significantly.
On average, 100 to150 people attend the biennial event. Rowley said organizers hope for more, as only half the attendees actually bid.
Silent auction items will be on exhibit in the Prichard Art Gallery today until Feb. 11. Auction items also will be available online at uiweb.uidaho.edu/galleries/auction.html, and bids can be made via email.