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Festival of Trees sets attendance record Sunday
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| Toni McCoy of Keokuk, front, and Linda Tracy of Hamilton, Ill., admire the tree deemed Most Festive by the Festival of Trees judges at Festival of Trees Sunday. The tree was decorated in red and purple with plenty of feathers by the Midwest Party Gals. |
By Cindy Iutzi/Gate City Staff Writer
“Folks, how about those Chiefs?” were auctioneer Dan Sullivan's opening words Sunday at the 17th annual Festival of Trees “White Christmas” live auction.
Cheers and applause for the Keokuk Chiefs state championship win Saturday set the mood for fast-paced and generous bidding, friendly rivalry and touching moments that make such events annual and well-attended.
Backed by a forest of brightly lit Christmas trees, Sullivan by turn cajoled, praised, brewed instant competition, prodded and eked out $1,000 bids in $25 and $100 increments. He kept the energy level high and focus strong as he worked with the crowd.
Emcee Chuck Betts of Keokuk called the setup an “auction in the round,” aptly describing the light-blazing mini-forest that dominated the dance floor of the Holiday Inn Express banquet room.
Seating was situated around the circumference of the dance floor and standing room accommodated the rest of the record crowd. As of this morning, exact numbers were not available, but Keokuk Art Center Executive Director Tom Seabold estimated about 250.
“At our post-Festival meeting, committee members agreed that after 17 years, this was the best Festival of Trees ever,” he said. “This was the best location, best crowd, best entries and definitely the best bidders.”
Of the 66 entries offered for bid, two of the live auction items brought more than $2,000 each, and five others sold for $400 or more.
The highest silent auction item, a stained glass panel by Austin Shaffer, brought $225.
Bidders had 18 trees and decorations to vie for during the live auction, and poured over 48 items, many handmade by local artists and residents with an artistic bent, throughout the evening.
An early tally of the receipts showed that the auction, ticket sales and the ornament sales brought in more than $25,000 to the Keokuk Art Center. Last year's Festival of Trees garnered about $22,000.
“One of the live auction items was a beautiful collection of three trees decorated by the staff of Dr. Gerald Schleier's dental office,” Seabold said. “The tree was donated to the Art Center in memory of Jerry Schleier's wife Joan, who had been an art teacher and active member of the Keokuk Art Center.
“The tree was purchased by Dr. Schleier to be displayed at his office throughout the holidays. After the auction, a donor came to the desk and matched Dr. Schleier's bid on the trees, resulting in a final bid of more $2,000 for the entry, all given as a contribution to the Keokuk Art Center.”
The matching donors were Keokuk dentist Ed Kircher and his wife, Tammi, who doubled Schleier's bid, making the evening's high bid $2,100.
The second highest bid, $2,050, was offered by Richard Bowers, who outbid all comers for a tree decorated by his wife, Alice Bowers, longtime patron of the arts and an artist in her own right.
The community also expressed its appreciation of the hours and years Sullivan has donated to the Festival of Trees, Seabold said.
“He is a major reason why it has been so successful,” he said. “This year, Dan brought his daughters to the event, and they were immediately captivated by the black and white tree which had been decorated by Karen Peterson and Veronica Kearns. By the time the tree came up for auction, two Art Center contributors had decided to combine their efforts and buy the tree as a gift to Sullivan's family in appreciation for the years of support from both himself and the other members of Sullivan Auctioneers.”
The tree, sponsored by the Cultural and Entertainment District was bid in at $750.
Several entries received honors by the Festival of Trees Committee: Most Elegant, a gift tree by Carla Celenia and Erika Wolfe showcasing designer gift items; Children's Favorite, designed by Keokuk Catholic Schools K-8 students with ornaments made from applesauce, cinnamon clay, nuts, berries, dried grapefruit, pine cones and other natural material; Most Unusual by Keokuk Y-Net, Christmas in Margaritaville including a palm tree, Margarita glasses and an inflatable parrot; Most Artistic, from Willow Tree's Tammy Panther, a lantern centerpiece; and Most Festive, decorated by Midwest Party Girls-Red Hat Ladies, with purple, red and plenty of feathers.
Other entries included a tabletop tree decorated in silver and cerulean by Rebecca Everett of Lock 19 Gallery, Keokuk; a handcrafted stained glass and copper fire screen by Austin Shaffer; the table top Little Black Dress tree by Natasha Wilson; and a mosaic patio table-bird bath designed by Sylvia Kegerreis; a red and silver Santa Claus tree designed by Barb Smidt; a centerpiece vase filled with white and silver ornaments designed by the staff at Sutlive Real Estate; a tall, thin tree decorated in white by the staff at Lofton, Stebbings and Sohl Insurance; a green tree with glass and silver ornaments by the staff of State Central Bank; a festive wreath by Frank Neal-McCall; and a limited edition Santa Ornament donated by Bob Woodburn and Janet Smith.
Food was catered by Hy-Vee catering.
Cheers and applause for the Keokuk Chiefs state championship win Saturday set the mood for fast-paced and generous bidding, friendly rivalry and touching moments that make such events annual and well-attended.
Backed by a forest of brightly lit Christmas trees, Sullivan by turn cajoled, praised, brewed instant competition, prodded and eked out $1,000 bids in $25 and $100 increments. He kept the energy level high and focus strong as he worked with the crowd.
Emcee Chuck Betts of Keokuk called the setup an “auction in the round,” aptly describing the light-blazing mini-forest that dominated the dance floor of the Holiday Inn Express banquet room.
Seating was situated around the circumference of the dance floor and standing room accommodated the rest of the record crowd. As of this morning, exact numbers were not available, but Keokuk Art Center Executive Director Tom Seabold estimated about 250.
“At our post-Festival meeting, committee members agreed that after 17 years, this was the best Festival of Trees ever,” he said. “This was the best location, best crowd, best entries and definitely the best bidders.”
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The highest silent auction item, a stained glass panel by Austin Shaffer, brought $225.
Bidders had 18 trees and decorations to vie for during the live auction, and poured over 48 items, many handmade by local artists and residents with an artistic bent, throughout the evening.
An early tally of the receipts showed that the auction, ticket sales and the ornament sales brought in more than $25,000 to the Keokuk Art Center. Last year's Festival of Trees garnered about $22,000.
“One of the live auction items was a beautiful collection of three trees decorated by the staff of Dr. Gerald Schleier's dental office,” Seabold said. “The tree was donated to the Art Center in memory of Jerry Schleier's wife Joan, who had been an art teacher and active member of the Keokuk Art Center.
“The tree was purchased by Dr. Schleier to be displayed at his office throughout the holidays. After the auction, a donor came to the desk and matched Dr. Schleier's bid on the trees, resulting in a final bid of more $2,000 for the entry, all given as a contribution to the Keokuk Art Center.”
The matching donors were Keokuk dentist Ed Kircher and his wife, Tammi, who doubled Schleier's bid, making the evening's high bid $2,100.
The second highest bid, $2,050, was offered by Richard Bowers, who outbid all comers for a tree decorated by his wife, Alice Bowers, longtime patron of the arts and an artist in her own right.
The community also expressed its appreciation of the hours and years Sullivan has donated to the Festival of Trees, Seabold said.
“He is a major reason why it has been so successful,” he said. “This year, Dan brought his daughters to the event, and they were immediately captivated by the black and white tree which had been decorated by Karen Peterson and Veronica Kearns. By the time the tree came up for auction, two Art Center contributors had decided to combine their efforts and buy the tree as a gift to Sullivan's family in appreciation for the years of support from both himself and the other members of Sullivan Auctioneers.”
The tree, sponsored by the Cultural and Entertainment District was bid in at $750.
Several entries received honors by the Festival of Trees Committee: Most Elegant, a gift tree by Carla Celenia and Erika Wolfe showcasing designer gift items; Children's Favorite, designed by Keokuk Catholic Schools K-8 students with ornaments made from applesauce, cinnamon clay, nuts, berries, dried grapefruit, pine cones and other natural material; Most Unusual by Keokuk Y-Net, Christmas in Margaritaville including a palm tree, Margarita glasses and an inflatable parrot; Most Artistic, from Willow Tree's Tammy Panther, a lantern centerpiece; and Most Festive, decorated by Midwest Party Girls-Red Hat Ladies, with purple, red and plenty of feathers.
Other entries included a tabletop tree decorated in silver and cerulean by Rebecca Everett of Lock 19 Gallery, Keokuk; a handcrafted stained glass and copper fire screen by Austin Shaffer; the table top Little Black Dress tree by Natasha Wilson; and a mosaic patio table-bird bath designed by Sylvia Kegerreis; a red and silver Santa Claus tree designed by Barb Smidt; a centerpiece vase filled with white and silver ornaments designed by the staff at Sutlive Real Estate; a tall, thin tree decorated in white by the staff at Lofton, Stebbings and Sohl Insurance; a green tree with glass and silver ornaments by the staff of State Central Bank; a festive wreath by Frank Neal-McCall; and a limited edition Santa Ornament donated by Bob Woodburn and Janet Smith.
Food was catered by Hy-Vee catering.
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| Destination Dome: Mission accomplished | Keokuk's City of Christmas opens Thursday |
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