Thank you to the generous sponsors, dedicated staff, supportive board of directors, talented artists, and enthusiastic art buyers who came together to raise funds sufficient to support another year of first-class exhibitions to the Lawrence Arts Center.
Edmonds Duncan has been our signature sponsor since 2015, and I am continually humbled by their generosity. Their vision of the power of art and the importance of the Lawrence Arts Center’s Exhibition Program has become a cornerstone of this annual event.
The culinary artists from Merchants Pub & Plate went above and beyond as our auction catering sponsor for the second year and kept more than 500 of our friends and supporters well fed and happy. We are always grateful for their creativity, talent, and generosity.
Margie Wakefield Law Office, P.A. was an inspiration with her Inspiration level sponsorship! A collector of art herself, her support of the arts reaches many corners of the Arts Center.
The longtime support of Stevens & Brand LLP is a staple of the Benefit Art Auction, and the party wouldn’t be the same without them!
As always, the great people at Mainline Printing provided beautifully crafted print materials, including the always gorgeous auction catalog.
City Wine Market, Boulevard Brewing Company, and Free State Brewing Company supplied the essential spirits, and Bittersweet Floral designed floral arrangements that paired perfectly with our featured artist’s fabulous lobby installation.
Others who continue to make the auction a much-anticipated and beloved event by artists and event attendees alike include Biemer’s BBQ, Checker’s Foods, Paden Photography, Sunflower Rentals, and our newest contributor, Repetition Coffee.
Of course, the main objective of the evening is to sell art and raise money to support our always free exhibitions, so my heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who made a purchase of art. As always we encourage everyone to spend time in our galleries throughout the year, get to know artists and their work, and continue to buy original art!
Thanks to staff, board members, and volunteers who helped make the 2019 Benefit Art Auction so much fun for everyone. Every year they find ways to improve processes to make things run more smoothly so that all who attend have a great time, and they make it fun behind the scenes despite the really hard work. There are literally over 100 tasks that happen throughout the evening, and it takes a well-coordinated team to make it happen.
Most importantly, thank you to the artists. Your support is essential to the very existence of the Exhibitions Program. Working with artists throughout the year is a privilege I will never take for granted, and the work donated so generously is of the highest caliber.
I look forward to seeing sponsors, board members, artists, and art lovers in the galleries in the coming months as we work towards making 2019-2020 Exhibitions the most inspiring yet.
All the best,
Ben
For more party pics, check out these fun moments captured by Backstory Photography’s Jeff Burkhead!