CLAREMONT, CA.- Art enthusiasts donated more than $60,000 to the Claremont Museum of Art on November 17, 2007, at the museum’s first annual contemporary art auction, VELOCITY 2007. The funds will go directly toward the museum’s exhibitions and educational programs.
The evening consisted of a silent auction and, later, a live auction of four pieces, including a Karl Benjamin painting (#10, 1975) that went for $19,000, a Harrison McIntosh ceramic sculpture sold at $5,000, a Janice Hoffmann necklace and earring set, and a Miguel Osuna painting. Guests also enjoyed hors d’ oeuvres by Three Forks, a hosted bar, the sounds of the Refugio Latin Jazz Trio, and an interactive photography project called FotoAktion. More than 150 people were in attendance.
VELOCITY 2007 offered art enthusiasts an exceptional opportunity to bid on art from established and emerging artists working in a variety of media.
The following artists generously donated artworks for this event: Fumiko Amano, Dawn Arrowsmith, Ellen Babcock, Karl Benjamin, Barbara Beretich, Enrique Castrejón, Steve Comba, Hollis Cooper, Zoe Crosher, Paul Darrow, Luis Delgado, Ron Feldman, James Fuller, Margaret Gallegos, Gary Geraths, Ed Gomez, Crispin Gonzalez, Rebecca Hamm, Angela Hennessy, Tom Herberg, Luis Hernandez, Germán Herrera, Janice Hoffmann, James Hueter, Christopher Irion, Ellen Jantzen, Kevan Jenson, Jennifer Kaufman, Ken Johnson, Kristie Lippire, Miguel Lopez, John Lucas, Andree Mahoney, Jerome Edward Mahoney, Jane Marquis, Rebecca Martinez, Harrison McIntosh, Blue McRight, Rebecca Miller, Miguel Osuna, Vincent Ramos, Roland Reiss, Albert Reyes, James Sansing, Martha Saudek, Elizabeth Sides-Preston, David Svenson, John Svenson, David Tate, Ruth Trotter, Linda Vallejo, Perry Vasquez, Matt Wardell, Antrese Wood, Michael Woodcock, Suzan Woodruff, Liat Yossifor, and Connie Zehr.
Four Sisters Inns, which manages Hotel Casa 425 and other boutique inns on the West Coast, donated a one-night stay at any of its hotels, and Laemmle Theatres contributed a film package. Helanie and Steve Goldwater donated $2,500 for the museum’s education programs as a challenge pledge, which raised an additional $5,000 during the live auction--a total of $7,500 earmarked specifically for educational purposes.
“The event exceeded our expectations across the board,” Executive Director William Moreno, said. “We're grateful to the artists and our supporters for making this event so successful.”
