GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE...
Centrepieces' 15th auction had an encouraging response from the residents of Dartford.
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| The busy auction space in the Orchards Shopping Centre. |
On
Saturday 14 November, The Orchards Shopping Centre in Dartford played host to
Centrepieces’ 15th annual auction. As in previous
years, the object was to raise money for the artists who are members of the
charity, as well as increase funds to help keep the organisation running.
On
a wet but busy pre-Christmas shopping day, prospective buyers were invited into
an auction space set up in one of the Shopping Centre’s vacant shops. There
they found a very professionally laid out registration desk, 100+ framed pieces
of artwork, a table of sculpture and some packed information boards about the services
and events that Centrepieces offers. The auction had been open since Thursday to
receive prior bids and, in a sign of how popular it had been, several had been
accepted before Saturday morning.
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| Centrepieces' Co-ordinator Geoff Norris with artist Christie Cassisa. |
Overall, Centrepieces’ artist Christie Cassisa witnessed a
positive response from Dartford residents: ‘I think the public’s imagination opened
up as they stood there amongst the artwork, because the part of their minds
they would usually be embarrassed about was stimulated. For instance, a few
people were artists themselves and they were happy that all these varied artists
had a place to present their stuff. From that, there was one woman who’s an artist
with a history of mental illness who wants to come and see what Centrepieces is
all about.
‘There was one funny moment. I asked one woman “What do you
think?” and she was unimpressed until I told her all the work had been done by
people with issues like depression and schizophrenia, and then she said “Oh,
actually, some of it’s pretty good!” That shows perceptions can change very
quickly, from not knowing anything about Centrepieces to being genuinely interested
in the charity. That’s very, very important for people who suffer this kind of
disability. It’s somewhere they can come where they’re not outsiders. The
meeting place and the auction was brilliant for letting people know about us.’
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| Auctioneer Paul Adams. |
When
the auction commenced at 12.30 prompt, with most of the 28 buyers’ seats
filled, each artist was introduced by the painter Nicole reading out a short
biography, all of which were touchingly honest and in some cases very moving.
As the porters held up individual artworks, bids (usually above the reserve
price) were invited by auctioneer Paul Adams, Chairman of the Disabled
Photographers’ Society. After a slow start, Paul’s infectiously enthusiastic
personality encouraged a generous response, resulting in 40 pieces of work
being sold in just 1 and ½ hours, raising £1,200.
The
event was over all too quickly at 2.00pm, but was successful enough to ensure
that this year’s Centrepieces auction won’t be the last. Buyers, charity
officials, and above all the artists, all went home happy.
Photographs copyright: Dawn Tomlin
