Newport Art Museum fundraiser draws record contributions

THE NEWPORT ART Museum raised $101,000 during its
THE NEWPORT ART Museum raised $101,000 during its "Wet Paint" fundraiser on Aug. 16 and Aug. 17, auctioning off 564 pieces of art donated by 368 artists.

NEWPORT – “Wet Paint,” a fundraiser predicated on selling just-made art, raised $101,000 for the Newport Art Museum last weekend, with a record-breaking 564 pieces of art donated for sale in silent and live auctions.
Started in 1992, “Wet Paint” had always included work by Frederick A. Cushing, an artist and museum member, who recently passed away. This year’s event, held Saturday, Aug. 16, and Sunday, Aug. 17, was dedicated to him.
A total of 368 artists of all backgrounds and skill levels, including 53 children, created the works of art on Saturday and donated them for sale that night and the next day.
The two auctions combined raised $75,219 for the museum. Another $25,781 was raised from other donations, as well as “preview party” admissions, a cash bar, and sales of frozen lemonade and ice cream.
The silent auction, which alone raised $35,744, kicked off the bidding during the preview party on Saturday night and continued the next day. Sunday’s live auction, run by auctioneer Marie Keep of Skinner Inc. sold 45 pieces of artwork and raised $39,475.
Cushing’s work was on display at the event and two of his giclée prints donated by his wife, Caterine Milinaire-Cushing, were auctioned off. Kris Offill’s work sold for $3,400, the largest sum for a single piece of art at the event.
Sponsors of the fundraiser included Bank of America/US Trust Private Wealth Management; Joseph A. Chazan, M.D.; Skinner, Inc.; Lexus of Warwick; Larry Brown’s Swinglane Orchestra and others.

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