By Syd Bastos
The Vicksburg Cultural Arts Center (VCAC) has been open for just a little over a year. In this time, it has hosted 38 events and has seen over 4,000 visitors come through its doors. More than 100 artists have engaged with the Arts Center, exhibiting art works in the gallery and surrounding community and accounting for over $18,000 in art sales. Poets and musicians alike have also had the pleasure of sharing their talents with the community in the cozy atmosphere created by the Arts Center staff.
To help insure its future, the Arts Center will hold its first fundraising auction at the Angels Crossing Golf Course on Friday, November 11 from 5:30-9 p.m. TV personality Lori Moore will be the guest MC and auctioneer for what is sure to be a very entertaining and delightful evening.
The Arts Center has of necessity operated on a shoestring and hopes the auction success will allow it to continue supporting the arts in Vicksburg with paid staff and paid entertainment. The auction is meant to ensure this will happen, with lots of people donating treasures and even more community members willing to purchase the unique items.
The wide variety of items to be auctioned during this event range from original paintings to special package – the “Man Cave”, golf memberships and even a pig roast! All auctioned items will be, or will contain, an element of art.
One art work item up for auction is a custom pastel drawing of a building of the bid winner’s choosing. This painting will be created by Helen Kleczynski, internationally recognized pastel artist and owner of Art House in Vicksburg. Local artist John Sweezy will create the custom frame.
Another featured item is the Distant Whistle Brew Pub package. Recently opened, the Distant Whistle Microbrewery sold out of their Mug Club membership program even before their grand opening. A private donor acquired Mug Club # 95 for the VCAC auction. In addition to this coveted mug club membership, the bid winner will work with local potter, Lisa Beams, to create a custom mug. A private tour of the brew room, a tasting for 10, a Growler and Distant Whistle glasses round-out this beer lover’s package.
Too many to mention here, follow the event on Facebook (https://facebook.com/vicksburgarts) or stop at the Gallery for an updated list of auction items.
Tickets are $25 and include hors d’oeuvres created especially for this event by chef Joe Tsui. Cash bar will be available. Tickets are limited to 100 total patrons and can be purchased at the Vicksburg Arts Center Gallery at 200 S. Main Street in Vicksburg and at http://www.vicksburgdda.com/events.