1708 Gallery presents their annual art auction, Mixology, with honorable chair Shepard Fairey, this Saturday, April 6, at 8pm. The 23rd annual fundraiser features both a live and silent auction of over 60 artists. Emily Smith, executive director, explains the auction's title: “We take the opportunity to try and play up whatever that theme may be… [The name] does reference the combination of artists, and it’s a great party, so it references mixed drinks and that sort of spirited evening.”
With the exception of Fairey, all of the artists “have some kind of connection with Richmond," Smith explains. "Whether they lived here [or] went to school here, there is some kind of connection.” Matt Lively, who “grew up here, was a scupture major, moved away, then moved back to make art and teach,” has a piece called “Beecycles” in the auction. Susan Worsham's piece also has a history of Richmond in it, featuring “a Tru-Ade bottle, the bottling [of which] used to happen in Richmond.”
Shepard Fairey not only has contributed a generous endorsement to the gallery, but has created a special screen print just for this show. Part of his Station To Station series, it features many visual elements of Richmond, from the VA cardinal to the train station to 1708 Gallery itself. Copies of this limited edition screenprint are available through 1708 Gallery--click here for details. To purchase tickets to this Saturday's auction, click here. The art that will be auctioned off is available for public viewing on April 5th, during this month’s First Friday Art Walk, at 1708 Gallery, located at 319 W. Broad St.