Art lovers: Fundraising gala set for Saturday

Everybody came early and stayed late last Saturday night at the cocktail reception and preview of the live auction art pieces to be put on the block at the Evening of the Arts fundraising gala to be staged on Saturday night, Sept. 17, at the Westin Hilton Head Resort & Spa.

The glittering art partiers, the legendary honored guests, the talented and gifted contributing artists, the Island School Council Scholarship students and Hilton Head art lovers filled the Karis Art Gallery to the brim.

Maggie Karis, of the Karis Gallery, had just hung the last painting when I found her late Saturday afternoon, just before the guests were to arrive. The visually exciting paintings were beautifully in place, each art piece exactly where it needed to be.

The exquisite works, 13 in all, created and donated by Lowcountry artist icons, adorned the spaces of the center gallery. Karis’ artful installation will please, intrigue and delight the honored artists, the community arts appreciators and supporters, as well as the generous donor artists whose work, more than 32 pieces, will be the subject of the silent auction on Saturday night.

The preview event at the Karis Gallery was established just three years ago through the thoughtful encouragement and leadership of the late Peter Karis, who had for many years contributed his famous, colorful, expressionistic, emotional and powerful paintings to the Evening of the Arts, now in its 34th year.

“Peter felt so strongly about creating an event at our gallery that would offer everybody a chance to meet and greet the honored artists, as well as the other silent auction artist donors ... and to see the amazing work ... even if they were not attending the gala fundraising event,” said Karis. “Everybody looks forward to this night.”

The Evening of the Arts

The fundraising gala, to benefit the Island School Council of the Arts, is dedicated to celebrating the arts, especially the visual arts, by way of a festive evening of bidding on carefully selected art pieces in a juried art auction — a live auction and a silent auction — created and supported by professional artists widely known for the high quality of their work. The evening is further enhanced by an elegant dinner and over-the-top entertainment provided by celebrity artists from the theater, dance and Broadway stage.

Expect and look forward to seeing a striking collection of the most astounding art pieces. All were created by uniquely gifted artists, who work in a variety of styles, mediums and formats.

“The art pieces are stunning,” said Karis. “Each piece, juried into the auction, represents the finest work of the participating artists ... and how perfect to include the work of five ISCA Scholarship students.”

The diversity of the silent auction work is compelling. There are paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, mixed medium, gouache, colored pencil even ink wash. Artists include Art Cornell, Elise Palmer Miller, Karen Lathem Palmer and a collage by Martha Worthy. Photography is taken to a new level by photographers such as Eric Horan, Bill Schmitt and Clyde Lohere. Dimensional work is impressive, too, so look forward to Jullian Mayor’s “Reflective Metal Bench” and Shari Farbstein’s “White Stoneware.” The jewelry will capture your imagination, so you must seek out Susan Knight’s hand-forged silver ginko leaves, Christopher Garniewicz’s American alligator and sterling silver work and Barbara Miller’s knitted necklace with freshwater pearls.

Patti Maurer, executive director of ISCA, commented about the exquisite art pieces, which will be auctioned on Saturday evening. She also pointed out how deeply she appreciated the gracious participation and generosity of the legendary artists and their families.

“Nothing I could ever say at the event will ever be enough to thank each and every one of the artists for giving ISCA these precious pieces of themselves,” said Maurer.

The proceeds realized from the gala fundraising auction will go toward the support of ISCA’s arts programs: Artist-in-Education Residency Program, Teacher Grants Program, Promising Picassos Student Art Exhibitions, ISCA Student Scholarships, and the Rising Stars Talent Competition and Scholarship Program.

This story was originally published September 15, 2016 at 2:56 PM with the headline "Art lovers: Fundraising gala set for Saturday."