A silent art auction, initiated by local wildlife artist Michael Shepard and sponsored by Artists for Gulf Wildlife, will benefit the National Wildlife Federation's efforts in the cleanup of wildlife and the environment affected by the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
Artists for Gulf Wildlife is an ad hoc committee comprised of local artists.
The plan is to ask artists in every medium from Guernsey and surrounding counties to donate an original piece of artwork, which will be placed in local businesses for silent bidding by the general public. There is no entry fee and no limit on the number of entries by an artist. All mediums are welcome: oil paintings, watercolors, photography, jewelry, sculptures, pottery, paper mache, etc.
Each piece should be signed by the artist.
Artwork entered in the bidding process will have a bidding sheet identifying the amount of the bid and the bidder's number. Bidding starts at $5 with a minimum of $5 incremental increases. Artwork does not have to be wildlife oriented, it is entirely the artist's choice.
It is important to note that whatever piece or pieces are chosen by the artist should be something that he or she feels would attract the most bids.
All donations will be recognized with a certificate.
Bidding begins Sept. 1 and runs through Sept. 30. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to the National Wildlife Federation.
The NWF is America's largest conservation organization that works with "partners and supporters in communities across the country to protect and restore wildlife habitat, confront global warming and connect with nature."
Discussion is under way about a reception on the final day of bidding.
Venue and details will be announced when plans are finalized.
Shepard said he has been always been an avid outdoorsman and a painter, but the two parts of his life didn't come together until he retired from the Guernsey County Sheriff's Office in 2005.
As an artist who captures the beauty of the great outdoors and its inhabitants on canvas, Shepard said he was sickened by televised reports recounting how the oil has devastated wetlands and nesting areas of birds, fish and other wildlife.
He said he wanted to do "something" to help clean it up.
He also knows this is an ambitious undertaking, but well worth the effort.
Any individual or business who would like to help out with any part of this event should contact the EOAG at 432-8100, and leave a message for Shepard.
Artists can download guidelines and an entry form at artistsforgulfwildlife.wordpress.com. Artwork may be delivered or mailed to the Eastern Ohio Art Guild, 649 Wheeling Ave., Cambridge, OH 43725. Entry form must be included.
The EOAG is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
jperkowski@daily-jeff.com
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