The Give to Get art auction took place on May 16 at the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG). The art pieces were all displayed inside the ultramodern Alma Duncan Salon with activities on both balconies of the floor. The auction was buzzing with excitement and people for three hours; a huge success for the OAG both in the turnout of the event as well as the number of pieces that were sold.
There was a significant amount of money that was raised for the OAG and the local artists that donated their works.
Art auction participants at the OAG. Photo by Vasileios Tselios.
The attendees were met with a night full of activities and socialising while browing and bidding on art works. But don’t worry, it wasn’t all high art pretention—there was a taco station and a popular cotton candy station too. Add in live music, a henna station, and a 360-degree photo booth, and it was a fun time for everyone.
As for the art, there were many beautiful pieces that caught the attention from the guests. The auction featured a Youth Art Wall that had the special critic’s choice piece A wolf in Blue. Allan Andre painted his art piece in real time during the auction, which attracted a lot of the attendees and was one of the most popular pieces in the room.
Allan Andre’s live painting. Photo by Vasileios Tselios.
The variety of the works, from their material to their messages and contexts, was a huge bonus to the event. As advertised, the auction also featured wearable art such as Diane Woodward’s piece, which was shaped as a hat.
The artworks on display certainly caught a lot of attention as the bids were plenty by the end of the night. Andrew Beck’s Great White Egret drew a lot of eyes due to its size and beautiful landscape, making it a coveted work. With the leading bid being at 5,101$, it ended up being the most expensive item in the auction. Other popular works included Elle Chae’s Invisible Within, one of the critic’s choices, and Christopher Griffin’s The Astronomer. Jocelyn Jenkins’ At Sea, a decorated vase, closed with a leading bid that more than tripled its predicted value!
Great White Egret by Andrew Beck. Photo by Vasileios Tselios.
Overall, the night proved a big success for everyone involved. The guests had a fantastic night, full of socialising, seeing beautiful art, and enjoying delicious treats and refreshments. The local artists that donated their art work were seen by hundreds of eyes, both virtually and in the physical auction. And above all, the Ottawa Art Gallery also was able to host a fantastic event that will go on to fund its many initiatives in the community.
