Going once, going twice…

The Revelstoke Visual Arts Society’s Sixth Annual Anything Goes fundraiser was a huge success on Saturday night. 118 people attended the event, which featured close to 30 works of original art by the city’s most talented artists. Please click here to see a larger version of this image. David F. Rooney photo
The Revelstoke Visual Arts Society’s Sixth Annual Anything Goes fundraiser was a huge success on Saturday night. 118 people attended the event, which featured close to 30 works of original art by the city’s most talented artists. Please click here to see a larger version of this image. David F. Rooney photo

By Victoria Strange

The Revelstoke Visual Arts Society’s Sixth Annual Anything Goes fundraiser was a huge success on Saturday night. 118 people attended the event, which featured 31 works of original art by the city’s most talented artists.

An excited crowd filled the gallery for the silent bidding that began at 7 pm. Executive Director Jacqueline Pendergrast officially welcomed guests while her three-year-old granddaughter Izabelle set the tone for the evening by concluding the introduction with the words: “Buy Art!”

Soon after, the delicious food began circulating. The Taco Club’s array of chips and salsa, sweet yam and chicken mini tacos were a hit with guests. Bids continued throughout the night with many artworks prompting their own bidding wars as patrons took sweet Izabelle’s instructions to heart.

The Best in Show piece Reflections on Venice by Francine Lanoie was auctioned live half-way through the evening. Excitement grew as two bidders were left battling for the painting. In a surprise turn of events, however, it was a third bidder who swept in at the end, topping all other bids with a generous $325.

Painter Francine Lanoie (left) poses with Karen Bray who out-bid her rivals to successfully take possession of Frabncince's lovely painting, Venice, which was judged Best in Show. David F. Rooney photo
Painter Francine Lanoie (left) poses with Karen Bray who out-bid her rivals to successfully take possession of Francine’s lovely painting, Reflections on Venice, which was judged Best in Show. David F. Rooney photo

Zuzanna Driediger’s Wired Fox and Jackie Pendergast’s The Long Walk reached the highest silent bid marks and the total evening raised more $2,500 for the gallery. This amount, along with funding received from the Bygone Entertainment Era Society, will be used to purchase seating for the pathway leading through the gardens created last year.

Pendergrast acknowledges the support of artists, volunteers, and the community of Revelstoke. On behalf of the gallery, she offers “A big thank you to all who participated in the event. It was a great evening and hugely enjoyed by the people who attended.”

Here are a few other photos from the show:

Josie Woodman contemplates this marvelous work. David F. Rooney photo
Josie Woodman contemplates this marvelous work. David F. Rooney photo
Jocelyn Walker seems mesmerized by one of the paintings on offer. David F. Rooney photo
Jocelyn Walker seems mesmerized by one of the paintings on offer. David F. Rooney photo
Many of the paintings evoked fairly exceited discussions, especially during the traditional Match-the-Artwork-to-the Artist game. David F. Rooney photo
Many of the paintings evoked fairly exceited discussions, especially during the traditional Match-the-Artwork-to-the Artist game. David F. Rooney photo