The Bexley Minority Parent Alliance hosted an art auction at the Bexley Public Library Saturday, March 26.
Art teacher Mabi Ponce de Leon said the purpose of the art auction was to raise money for the senior scholarship fund, which provides funds for minority students planning to attend college.
Ponce de Leon explained that prospective buyers first visited the library to meet the artists Saturday, March 19. She added that the actual auction was online.
President of BMPA Bryan Drewry said he and his committee members presented the idea of an art auction to several friends and artists who all agreed that this would be a successful way to raise money.
“We got involved with the Bexley Arts Council and the local arts nonprofit organization to get some feedback about how this auction might look,” Drewry explained.
This year marks the fourth year of the BMPA senior scholarship fund, Drewry said, and their goal is to raise funds for two or three $1,000 scholarships.
Instead of the BMPA choosing which applicants receive the scholarships, members of the Bexley Minority Alumni Association make the selections, he added.
“The BMAA chooses the winners by looking at their GPA, school-related work, extracurriculars and community work,” he said. “There is an application on our website as we work with the school counselors to share the information.”
Drewry said the purpose of the auction is not only to raise funds for the scholarships but also to acknowledge local artists.
Junior Kieran Mooney said that when she heard that the BMPA was hosting an art auction, she wanted to support the organization by producing artwork of her own.
“I donated an oil pastel portrait of a colorful kitchen for the auction,” she said. “I took inspiration from my grandmother, who immigrated from the Philippines, and she would spend hours cooking for her family in her vibrant ‘70s kitchen.”
Mooney said she hopes to participate in other upcoming auctions and believes that this event will leave a positive impact on the community.
“This event taught me that art can be used as a way to help people,” she said. “It inspires those who see it and can bring happiness to those who need it.”
While preparing the auction, Drewry said he has gained a better understanding of the talented artists in Columbus.
“I learned that some of the artists in the auction have been featured in magazines and have received different awards, which gave me a new perspective on these people,” he explained.
Drewry explained that due to COVID-19, most art auctions have been canceled or postponed. Therefore, this auction is a rare opportunity for artists to showcase their work
Publicly.
If the auction is a success, it will become an annual event, he added.
He said he wants to make the auction bigger in the future by incorporating artwork from younger students.
Ponce de Leon said she hopes that the BMPA achieves their goals in regards to the art auction and she admires all the work they have done.
“The BMPA has done a lot of really cool things including celebrating holidays, working with the library and doing food truck days to celebrate events,” she said. “Everything they have done for the community has been great, and I know this auction will be a very positive experience.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.