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Art Auction's Almost Here

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By JOYCE McKENZIE

jmckenzie@tampatrib.com

Published: April 1, 2009

TEMPLE TERRACE - It's fun and it's affordable.

That's how organizers are billing the 11th annual Celebration of the Arts, a dinner and art auction on April 11 sponsored by the Temple Terrace Arts Council.

"If you're looking for an enjoyable evening out and art at a bargain, this is the place to be," said Mary Jane Neale, arts council president.

The event kicks off with a silent auction and a buffet followed by the live auction, led by hometown auctioneer Mark Schwab.

Accompanying him will be Temple Terrace residents Joey Affronti, Keven Woodard and Lee Winter, who, similar to Vanna White on the game show "Wheel of Fortune," will take on the role of showcasing the art pieces to guests.
Art council members have selected a mix of more than two dozen pieces, including original paintings, jewelry, pottery and wood-crafted pieces, for the live auction. The group purchased the items at the 2007 Temple Terrace Community Arts Festival and the art was on display at City Hall throughout 2008.

The auction and festival feed off one another in that the proceeds from this year's auction will be used to buy art pieces that in 2011 will be displayed at the newly renovated Omar K. Lightfoot Recreation Center.

They will be auctioned the following year.

"Our mission is to put art in the community, in people's homes," said Anne Greene, an art council member. "The purpose is not to make money. We are able to buy original art at very reasonable prices from some very fine artists."

Schwab, who has only missed one year since the art auction's inception, said it is an evening that he always looks forward to participating in.

"I try to mix a little entertainment and comedy in with the auctioneering," said the Temple Terrace resident, who is also a singer. "It's a lot of fun and there are so many great people from the Terrace who support it."

He is also impressed with the quality of the items up for bid.

"They have some beautiful pieces that sometimes I want to bid on them myself," Schwab said. "But I can't."

Former City Councilwoman Glenda Venable and her husband, Bill, are longtime supporters of the art auction.

"We're not big art aficionados but it's one of our favorite events," Venable said. "It's a fun time and the art is very well priced."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Celebration of the Arts dinner and art auction
WHEN: 6:30 p.m. April 11

WHERE: Temple Terrace Golf & Country Club, 200 Inverness Ave.

COST: $30 per person. Checks, made payable to the Temple Terrace Arts Council, can be mailed to P.O. Box 291266, Tampa FL 33687.

INFORMATION: (813) 988-ARTS (2787)

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849.

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