Silent bidding begins July 1 for the annual 12X12 scholarship fundraiser for the Friends of the Visual Arts at Stephen F. Austin State University, and this year’s event features donated pieces by renowned artists David Yapp and Stuart Riordan.
The silent auction features 12-by-12-inch panels of artwork created by artists from Nacogdoches, Lufkin and other areas of East Texas. The panels will be on display in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches, and bidding will continue until and conclude with a party and sale at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 18, at the art center.
Both Yapp and Riordan had solo exhibitions this past spring in Cole Art Center. Yapp’s donated piece is titled “The Chapel at Millard’s Crossing,” which the artist painted “plein air” when he was in Nacogdoches in April. Stuart’s is titled “at half past 3 a single bird into a silent sky.”
Serving as co-chairmen of the fundraiser this year are Jean Stephens, Lisa Steed and Linda Mock. Working with them are Kat Avant, who was in charge of hanging the show; Stephanie Stephens, Carol Athey and Jill Carrington, who will serve as cashiers for the sale; and Karon Gillespie, Lou Hugman, Richard Orton and Damon Ruckel, who are in charge of food and drinks. Kat Garcia is organizing the drawing.
The artists do not sign the front of their work so no one knows who created which piece. At the July 18 party and sale, each 12X12 artwork not bid on (and this is the vast majority of the work, Stephens said) will be sold for $100.
The purpose of 12X12 is to raise much-needed funds to help art students pursue their dreams of becoming successful artists, according to Stephens.
“The 12X12 fundraiser is important to both the FVA and SFA art students, because its success determines the amount of financial support we can give the students,” she said.
Within the past year, the FVA awarded more than $11,000 in Friendship Grants and scholarships to 25 students; the grants ranged from $200 to $400 per student while the scholarships ranged from $750 to $1,000. The grants were awarded to help defray the costs of special projects for their art classes or MBA/BA exhibition, or to attend conferences or go on school trips that will help with their professional careers, such as Maymester trips for art students to go to Big Bend for a photography project. This summer, the organization also awarded scholarships for three elementary school students to attend the SFA Art Academy.
The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information about 12X12, call The Cole Art Center at (936) 468-6557.
