Over 250 artists submitted more than 300 works of art to the Newport Art Museum's community arts event, Wet Paint 2009, sponsored by William Vareika Fine Arts Ltd. Wet Paint generated nearly $70,000 over the weekend of August 15 and 16 for Museum programs, exhibitions and educational outreach.
The sun was shining on Wet Paint weekend! That's newsworthy in itself during a summer when so few weekends have been sunny.
Elizabeth Goddard, Acting Executive Director commented, "We were blessed with wonderful weather and that really helped bring out the artists on Saturday. The community continues to show strong support for the Museum through Wet Paint. It really is our signature event and it supports many of the exhibitions, educational and outreach programs that help to make this area such an inviting and enjoyable community."
Hundreds of artists fanned out across the area on Saturday, August 15 to create works of art that were hung in the Museum's Ilgenfritz Gallery the same day, in time for an evening reception and preview. Silent bidding continued until Sunday afternoon when Mike Corcoran led a spirited live auction under a tent on the Museum's grounds, assisted by co-chairs Jessica Hagen and Don Jagoe as well as artist John MacGowan. A seascape painting by Pieter Roos commanded the highest price: $3400.
Top Selling Artists
Pieter Roos
Richard Grosvenor
Fred Cushing
Dora Atwater-Milliken
Jonathan Small
Sue McNally
John MacGowan
Jim Hagen
Cindy Brown
Dragana Tornquist
Kate Hoyt Psaki
Tara Elliott coordinated Wet Paint 2009. The committee included Pamela Chapman, Tom Eberhardt, Madeline Harris, Larry Bacon, Judy Blake, Diane Montenegro, Laura Butkus, John Schneider and Gayle Hargreaves.
Important Dates and Times to Note
Saturday, August 15
Register at the Museum, 8:00 to 10:00 AM
Saturday, August 15
Artwork drop-off, Noon to 3:00 PM
Saturday Evening, August 15
Preview Reception and Silent Auction, 6:00 to 8:00 PM
We encourage you to pre-register if you would like to be included in the WET PAINT Program. Your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address may be used in the Program if the registration is received by the deadline for inclusion in the Program, August 1st.
Artists may submit up to two artworks in any medium.
In the spirit of "wet paint", we encourage you to submit art created "en plein air", or your most recent work.
Artwork submitted by children 12 and under will be installed in the Corridor Gallery for display and silent auction.
Works are to be submitted no later than 3 pm on Saturday, August 15th.
All work will initially be placed in the Silent Auction. The public will be able to bid on works during the Preview Reception on Saturday, August 15th and again on Sunday, August 16th from noon to 3:00 pm.
Selected works from the Silent Auction will go to the Live Auction on Sunday, August 16th at 4 pm; live auction bidding will begin at the last amount on the bid sheet.
Artists who submit work will be admitted free with one guest to Saturday's Preview Reception; Members $10; non-members $15.
