A Night at the Art Auction

So what happens at the Art Auction? I just wanted to share my experience at the Rotary Club of Calgary Sarcee's Art Auction because like many of you, I did not have a clue as to what the evening was all about!

Thanks for taking the time in following me on this journey. 

My husband Kurt and I got all dressed up for the evening and it was just a pleasure to feel like we were taking time to look and feel different for an evening. We arrived at the Red & White club and were greeted by one of our Rotary club members, Doug, wearing this enormous hat! Ok there was some humour in the air. I liked that! We registered and received our bid numbers. 

There was a very festive mood in the air as I noticed the great little combo (Calgary’s own Bowdjangos) playing some great hot swing and gypsy jazz.

After ordering our cocktail, we walked around admiring the incredible works of art and made notes in our program narrowing down the selection to a few choice pieces we wished to display in our home.

The entire room was filled with art, from bright vivid colours to more relaxing themes. There was art for all lovers or art, some contemporary, some modern some natural scenes of our amazing Rocky Mountains.

Then we noticed an artist painting a mountain scene right there in front of us. We learned that he was going to auction off this work at the end of the evening. This was none other than Mr Swinton from Swinton’s Everything Art here in Calgary.

At the other end of the hall we discovered 6 tables filled with an array of silent auction items. From miniature firefighter outfits to jewelry to food processors, fishing gear, golf clubs, chocolate. Wow! What a selection to choose from and we certainly put our bids on many items.

A gourmet meal of Alberta Prime Rib was served and was finished with a luscious desert.

We also purchased a couple of balloons that had a surprise gift inside. It was indeed quite interesting when we all burst our balloons at the same time, all 300 balloons popping. Cool! We collected our numbered prize and brought home some very expensive and delicious chocolate.

After a few words from the organizers as well as the designated charity, Frank Hall of Hall’s Auction began the evening’s auction.

Each piece was paraded through the crowd as Frank expertly handled the bidders upping each other! In the meantime I kept an eye on our silent auction bids as well.

Then came the time to bid on the work that I really wanted. I nervously held up by bid number and anxiously looked at Kurt and repeatedly asked him “how high can we go”. He kept giving me the “thumbs up” signal so I kept insisting with my bid number. “SOLD” I hear as I lept for joy! We got it! This beautiful work is now displayed in our front entrance where it gets regular ooohs and aaaahs from friends.

By about 10 pm all the art had been auctioned off and the silent auction items sold. Everyone had a smile on their face as they left with their amazing purchases. Perhaps also smiling because they knew that their contributions were going to a most worthy cause in the shortest delay with practically no administrative overhead.

Each year I look forward to this unique and exhilarating evening. It’s win win win. Win for the artist, win for the purchaser and above all win for the charity.

This year’s charity is the Easter Seals Camp Horizon to purchase new beds for the campers as the existing ones are way past due!

Come and join us for an evening of fun with a purpose!

Manon Mitchell

Rotary Club of Calgary Sarcee