Art Auction raises money for department

Sophomore Ellie Baer looks at artwork for sale during the Art Department’s Second Annual Art Auction on Tuesday, March 2.

The Art Club hosted its second annual Art Auction on Tuesday, March 2. The event was held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the school cafeteria. All artwork sold was original student work.

“Artworks are donated by students, so it is a volunteer basis,” art teacher and Art Club adviser Christine An said.
This year, the club made $2,215 in profits compared to last year’s $2,000.

Half of the profits goes directly to students, and the other half of the money goes toward the Student Scholarship Fund. The money will be providing scholarships for this year’s Art Department trip to Germany and Poland from Wednesday, April 7 to Friday, April 16.

“We want to be as inclusive as possible and allow as many students to go,” An said.

Although the event was two hours, the students spent weeks on their art.

“It’s a lot of work,” Art Club member junior Susan Gao said. “That’s why not everybody [was] willing to have their art work sold.”

The entire event was organized by students who volunteered their time to help put up fliers around the school and in shopping centers, brought food for the potluck and decided prices and tags for the art.

“You have to think about how much time and effort went into these artworks,” An said. “Students volunteer the artworks that they have created and they’re putting the event together. If we have to make $2,000-$3,000 we have to put in a lot of artworks to the auction. All the organization is done by students so it is a huge accomplishment for them.”

Many students felt satisfied with selling their artworks.

“After you sell you feel really good because you know that you are helping someone,” senior Sydney Manning said. “You know that you are making someone happy because they buy [the artwork] and hang it in their house, and you’re also helping someone else to fund their art trip.”

At the auction, items ranged from $30 to $100. Digital photos that were 8 by 10 inches cost $40 and larger drawings and paintings were $60 to $100.

A German and Polish potluck dinner was provided as a theme for the art trip. Many students said they felt rewarded by selling their personal art and photos.

“It feels good to see someone like [your artwork],” senior Helen Broering said. “It reinforces your confidence that you have the ability to make art and share it.”

In addition, the auction was a fun social event for everyone involved.

“Many art students came and socialized, so it was a nice place to talk to people you haven’t talked to for a while,” Art Club board member junior Marika Lee said. “Another highlight was seeing the reaction of students when someone buys their works; they get really happy and excited.”

An said that she is proud that her students were able to use the auction to display all the of the hard work, time and effort that they put into their art work and organizing the event.

“For artworks to be put out in public and for the public to come see, enjoy and purchase the artworks is a huge validation for the students’ effort, art skills and talent,” An said.