Friends of the Braithwaite Auction for Art

Published: February 26, 2008 | Read Time: 2 minutes

The Friends of the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery have set Wednesday, March 5 at Rusty’s Ranch House for their 16th annual Art Auction, “For Arts’ Sake!”

“From the first year at Milt’s Stage Stop when we had 14 pieces of donated art and perhaps 45 people, to our 16th year with over 60 items and an anticipated crowd of over 103 supporters, the Friends of the Gallery are proud of the financial strength and stellar exhibits that this has made possible for the Southern Utah University campus, Iron county schools and our community,” said auction founder Anne Gardner.

According to Gardner, attendance at the annual auction has grown steadily with a venue change in 1998 to the larger Rusty’s Ranch House, also up Cedar Canyon.

In addition to silent and live items up for bid, exciting drawings for weekend getaways and services will add to the fun and opportunities. “We are proud of the high calibre of paintings, drawings, sculpture, ceramics and jewelry generously donated and offered for sale each year at this auction. Our patrons and friends, old and new, can look forward to works by Richard Hardin, Jimmie Jones, Kate Starling, Brad Holt and many more. Most of the finest examples I can think of are SUU alumni, which surely speaks well of our fine arts programs here,” added Gardner, an SUU alum herself.

Each year the proceeds of the evening are dedicated to bringing to the campus an exhibition of art that would otherwise be financially out of their reach. This year their plans include funding a traveling collection of etchings by American artist Winslow Homer, to be shown in the fall of 2009.

In addition to this show, a portion of the proceeds will be dedicated to establishing a purchase fund honoring the late Dr. Rodney Brown. In 1976 Dr. Brown spearheaded a group of community leaders and worked with Professor Tom Leek to create the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery on the campus of then Southern Utah State College. Dr. Brown chaired the “Friends of the Gallery” from that time through 1984 and was key in guiding the fledgling gallery before passing on the reigns but continuing his lifelong support for the arts.

Dinner and auction tickets for the March 5th evening are $40 and can be purchased through the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery on campus, by calling 586-5432 or by stopping by at Castro and Company Jewelers at 68 North Main Street in Cedar City.

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Contact Information:

435-586-5400
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