Collect outstanding local art and support Blue Star Contemporary Art Center this Thursday at the non-profit’s annual fundraising extravaganza, Red Dot. The name spells out the game: Pay for entry ($75 apiece or $125 a pair), and at 7 p.m. sharp it’s first-come first-serve on work by the likes of Chris Sauter, James Smolleck, Kelly O’Connor, and Chuck Ramirez. The works are priced by the artists, and 50 percent of the sales are returned to their pockets. Participating artists are selected each year by patron angels, who work with them to choose two pieces — one for the patron’s collection, and one for Red Dot. “It’s like playing curator for the evening,” says Exhibitions and Program Manager Zinnia Dunis Salcedo.
Last year, says Salcedo, Blue Star raised $118,000 from the sale of the works, $55,000 of which went to the artists, the remainder of which supported exhibitions and education programming.
“Sometimes `the art` is priced really well,” adds Salcedo, but even if you’ve already spent your tax refund, the party alone is worth the price of admission, with food from the chef masterminds of Lisa Brooks Catering, Madhatters, Citrus, Ranch 616, and Bistro Soleil. Tickets and more info are available at bluestarart.org.
