North Shore Arts Association Hosts FUNdraiser Gala!
On Saturday, August 16th, the North Shore Arts Association is hosting a Nearly Wet Paint Auction & Gala in their historic gallery on Smith’s Cove in Gloucester. This important fund-raising event is a significant opportunity to help enhance the functionality and safety of their distinctive harbor-front building, a Gloucester landmark since the early years of the twentieth century. Since 1922 the North Shore Arts Association has grown in importance both as a distinguished art association and a vital part of Cape Ann’s creative economy. By offering nationally recognized art exhibitions and presenting workshops, demonstrations and lectures by some of America’s finest artists, NSAA has enriched the life of Cape Ann. By reaching out to the community for support, NSAA hopes to secure a productive future for both the association and the building housing it.
As Gloucester evolves as a destination for cultural tourism and as a mecca for artists who travel from all parts of the country to attend workshops and paint, it is more important than ever that the community cultivate and support existing resources to contribute to this exciting new economy. Recent studies by the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) as reported on Culture Count, New England’s Cultural Database, demonstrate that cultural organizations including NSAA add an actual dollar value to local economies as measured by indicators from the amount of money drawn into the economy every year by those coming here to attend events, to the value their presence contributes to property values.
Recently awarded Northshore Magazine’s 2008 Best of the North Shore Editor’s Choice Award, NSAA has a long history of accomplishment. Artists including Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, Fitz Henry Lane, Childe Hassam, and John Twachtman were drawn to Gloucester both for its natural beauty and its vital art community. The NSAA gallery, originally a livery which received cargo from ships docking in Gloucester harbor, has served both as a home for art events and as a frequent subject of paintings. With panoramic views of the Gloucester skyline, Gloucester Marine Railways where ships including the Mayflower II come to be refurbished, and historic Rocky Neck Art Colony, the building has benefited from many upgrades in recent years but more needs to be done.
A measure of the value of NSAA to this community is the local businesses that have banded together to help support this exciting, elegant and fun fund-raising Live Art Auction & Gala. Sponsored
by Cape Ann Savings Bank Trust & Financial Services Department, there will be a preview party catered by Duckworth’s Bistro at 5:30pm to 7:00pm. Flowers will be provided by Audrey’s Flowers and music by What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? There will be a wine bar throughout the evening. As an added bonus neighboring business Again & Again, manufacturers of upcycled sailbags is offering special gifts for premium buyers. There will be no sales tax charged on paintings and there is never a buyer’s premium added. Recognized North Shore auctioneer Frank Kaminski of Kaminski Auctioneers will act as host.
Investing in art has become increasingly popular for the very obvious reason that, unlike stocks and bonds, investors can take their investments home and enjoy their beauty on a daily basis. Buying art from an organization with a long and distinguished history of attracting high quality artists helps to reassure potential investors that the art they buy will not only be beautiful but have the potential to increase in value. Art by artists such as Charles Movalli, Jeff Weaver, Robert Gruppe, and Dale Ratcliff, frequent contributors to NSAA auctions, have demonstrated a record of increasing in value. But the real joy of collecting art is the fun of attending the auction, finding something you love, and competing to make it yours.
In an era of increasing cyber-living, art can provide a refuge from the onslaught of technology and accompanying alienation. By supporting community institutions such as NSAA we cannot only support this significant community asset but assure it a place for future generations.
Tickets for NSAA’s Nearly Wet Paint Auction & Gala are on sale now. Tickets are $25 each and may be purchased at NSAA located at 11 Pirates Lane in Gloucester or over the phone with a credit card by calling 978-283-1857. More information can be found at www.nsarts.org.