Art Department Prepares for Art Auction

Annual Art Auction

Campus artists invited to submit pieces for consideration for silent auction

OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi Department of Art will host its second annual art auction Nov. 7 at the Powerhouse Arts Center.

The auction will spotlight select work by emerging student artists and accomplished faculty, with proceeds funding Gallery 130 operation and the art department’s visiting artist program.

“The visiting artist program is a very important component to our department because it provides students with real-life experiences with a working artist,” said Virginia Chavis, chair of the department.

“Many lifelong relationships begin during visiting artist programs. It is a wonderful opportunity for students and faculty to have artists come that they may not be able to travel to see otherwise.”

Last year, UM was able to house, as visiting artist, the internationally acclaimed painter Bo Bartlett, as well as display an exhibition of his work for students and the community at the University Museum.

Another important goal of the auction is to raise awareness about the work accomplished within the art department by students and faculty alike.

“The work that our students and faculty create is significant and we want the community to be a part of what we do,” Chavis said.

A silent auction, featuring undergraduate artwork, will kick off the event at 9 a.m., with silent bidding ending at 7 p.m. The cocktail hour will start at 5 p.m. and lead to the live auction at 6, which will feature works from faculty and graduate students.

A jury of faculty and graduate students will select pieces of art from each medium for the silent auction at the end of October. Submissions are not limited to art students, and all undergraduate artists are encouraged to submit pieces in the various categories.

Organizers plan to have 10 pieces available for silent auction from each of the following categories: photography, printmaking, drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics and graphic design.

The auction is open to the public and all interested parties are invited to attend.

For more information, contact art@olemiss.edu, visit http://www.art.olemiss.edu or call 662-915-7193.

—Dennis Irwin, Ole Miss News Desk