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Festival of Trees raises more than $10,000 for Art Center
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| Hawthorne Elementary School fourth graders sing the National Anthem at the start of Monday night’s school board meeting. The students also recited the preamble to the Constitution. |
By Celia Malm/Gate City Correspondent
The 19th annual Festival of Trees, sponsored by the Keokuk Art Center Saturday, raised more than $10,000 for the Art Center.
The Festival of Trees is the Art Center's major fund-raiser for the year, with the proceeds supporting the Center's programs, such as bringing artists into the local schools. The Festival was organized this year by Sue McGreevey.
Nearly 100 items, ranging from eclectic art pieces to whimsically decorated trees, were donated by businesses and individuals. This year's theme was “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
About 73 items were displayed for sale by silent auction, while major items, such as the decorated trees, were sold by live auction at the end of the evening. One new twist this year was a “Buy It Now” feature on some of the silent auction items.
Dan Sullivan of Sullivan Auctioneers in Hamilton, Ill., returned again to conduct the live auction for the Festival. He has participated in this event for more than 10 years.
“I look forward to it,” he said.
Another returning participant was Chuck Betts, who has been emceeing the Festival for about 15 years. He conducted the event this year with the assistance of his son-in-law, Matt McIver.
Art Center Director Tom Seabold describes the annual event as “the first Christmas party of the year,” kicking off the Christmas season in Keokuk.
The atmosphere was indeed festive, with food catered by Hy-Vee, including a whole baked salmon, teriyaki chicken sticks, cocktail shrimp and shredded pork with a wide variety of sauces.
The auction also started on a party note, with the guests singing a “Happy Birthday” to the president of the Art Center, Nancy Allerman.
The Best of Show display, an elaborate dollhouse made and donated by the staff of Sutlive Real Estate, brought $650.
A large, carved wooden folding screen, displaying birds on one side and Christmas-themed panels on the other, was made and donated by Tri-State Woodcarvers. Voted People's Choice, it sold for $1,100.
The most remarkable sale of the evening was “The Night Before Christmas Treasure Tree,” a white-flocked tree with antique decorations, donated by Richard Bowers Associates and designed by Sally, Wanda, Cathy and Alice. Alice Bowers was one of the founders of the Festival of Trees. This tree brought $2,000 to the Keokuk Art Center.
Other items in the live auction were a large wreath created by Frank Neal McCall of Flowers by Daryl; a silver and pearl necklace and earrings, created by Erika Wolfe; a Fitz & Floyd Christmas tea set, donated by First Community Bank; and a mantel-size candleholder, created by Carla Celania and Erika Wolfe, and sponsored by the Trust Department of State Central Bank.
Decorated trees were sponsored by Dawn Butler and the students of the Keokuk Catholic Schools; the Keokuk Arts and Entertainment District; State Central Bank; Lofton, Stebbings and Sohl; Keokuk Y-Net; Linda Tracy; and Karen Snyder (who also donated 15 decorated wreaths for the silent auction).
The tree designated Most Artistic was a pink feather creation decorated with candy, designed by Natasha Wilson and sponsored by The Little Black Dress.
The Festival of Trees is the Art Center's major fund-raiser for the year, with the proceeds supporting the Center's programs, such as bringing artists into the local schools. The Festival was organized this year by Sue McGreevey.
Nearly 100 items, ranging from eclectic art pieces to whimsically decorated trees, were donated by businesses and individuals. This year's theme was “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
About 73 items were displayed for sale by silent auction, while major items, such as the decorated trees, were sold by live auction at the end of the evening. One new twist this year was a “Buy It Now” feature on some of the silent auction items.
Dan Sullivan of Sullivan Auctioneers in Hamilton, Ill., returned again to conduct the live auction for the Festival. He has participated in this event for more than 10 years.
“I look forward to it,” he said.
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Art Center Director Tom Seabold describes the annual event as “the first Christmas party of the year,” kicking off the Christmas season in Keokuk.
The atmosphere was indeed festive, with food catered by Hy-Vee, including a whole baked salmon, teriyaki chicken sticks, cocktail shrimp and shredded pork with a wide variety of sauces.
The auction also started on a party note, with the guests singing a “Happy Birthday” to the president of the Art Center, Nancy Allerman.
The Best of Show display, an elaborate dollhouse made and donated by the staff of Sutlive Real Estate, brought $650.
A large, carved wooden folding screen, displaying birds on one side and Christmas-themed panels on the other, was made and donated by Tri-State Woodcarvers. Voted People's Choice, it sold for $1,100.
The most remarkable sale of the evening was “The Night Before Christmas Treasure Tree,” a white-flocked tree with antique decorations, donated by Richard Bowers Associates and designed by Sally, Wanda, Cathy and Alice. Alice Bowers was one of the founders of the Festival of Trees. This tree brought $2,000 to the Keokuk Art Center.
Other items in the live auction were a large wreath created by Frank Neal McCall of Flowers by Daryl; a silver and pearl necklace and earrings, created by Erika Wolfe; a Fitz & Floyd Christmas tea set, donated by First Community Bank; and a mantel-size candleholder, created by Carla Celania and Erika Wolfe, and sponsored by the Trust Department of State Central Bank.
Decorated trees were sponsored by Dawn Butler and the students of the Keokuk Catholic Schools; the Keokuk Arts and Entertainment District; State Central Bank; Lofton, Stebbings and Sohl; Keokuk Y-Net; Linda Tracy; and Karen Snyder (who also donated 15 decorated wreaths for the silent auction).
The tree designated Most Artistic was a pink feather creation decorated with candy, designed by Natasha Wilson and sponsored by The Little Black Dress.
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| Verity, Montrose awarded more than $250,000 |
