Tomorrow is the GRACE ART Collector's Choice event. Participants purchase a ticket (or more than one) for $150. Artists donate pieces of art, which can be previewed in advance. Numbers are drawn in quick order, and if your number is drawn you must provide the number of the art piece that you want. The pace is fast and the air is charged with excitement.
All art is donated and proceeds go to GRACE to aid in promoting their mission, 'GreaterRestonArtsCenter (GRACE) enriches community life by promoting involvement and excellence in contemporary visual arts. In pursuit of this mission, GRACE provides a year-round program of visual art exhibitions, education programs for all ages, and special events.'
Tickets can be purchased at GRACE which is located in the Reston Towncenter at 12001 Market Street Suite #103 Reston, VA 20190. The total number of tickets sold will not exceed the number of art works that have been donated, so everyone will go home with a unique work of art. The first choice is raffled off at the beginning, so don't forget to buy your first choice raffle ticket for an opportunity to be the first to choose.
This will be my third year attending this wonderful event. In the past I have come home with a table top sculpture and last year I got a beautiful photograph. I just spent an hour at GRACE prioritizing things that I want to take home this year. Of course, due to the nature of the event, my list may end up worthless (if everyone else wants the same things and my number is called late). There is a break half way through the event so that people who have tickets that haven't yet been called can adjust their list and, perhaps, make some new choices.
Bring a folding chair and plan on spending the afternoon. The doors open at 11 am and the event begins at 1:00 pm. It will continue until every ticket has been called. You will see lots of folks from in and around Reston, you will be supporting the local arts and arts in the schools and, best of all, you will go home with your own special work of art!
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What an exciting way to promote art and raise some funding. Very clever approach! Sounds like a lot of fun, especially seeing all of the original pieces.
What a great idea! I love the support for the community and the appreciation for the arts. Post a photo of what you "win" - would love to see it!
It was great fun! I got a lovely picture,' Sleeping Baby' by Scott Hill. It was an oil on an antique postcard. It was beautifully framed, too, although that was not part of the photograph below.
I was pretty far down the list before they called my number, but I was able to get my 10th choice (or one from my 'top 10).