All photos by Simon Stiles.
Art lovers, artists and Ottawa’s creative authority flocked to the Ottawa Art Gallery for its 20th anniversary fundraising auction.
Sold out in advance, Le pARTy was buzzing with close to 500 people eyeing up the bidding competition for the 65 original artworks from emerging and established artists. The auction showcased a variety of media including painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, new media and installation.
Le pARTy is the gallery’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Marking their 20th anniversary and last year at Arts Court, OAG staff joyfully exceeded their fundraising goal, raising $108,000. The funds raised go to support the gallery’s exhibition and educational programming needs. Unlike many fundraising art auctions, Le pARTy returns 40 per cent of the sale price of each work back to the artist.
A side note to the bidding action was the notable elements of food and fashion. Throughout the evening, Ottawa’s culinary artists from the city’s top eateries offered several courses of flavourful hors d’oeuvres and an array of cocktails were served from the open bar. Fashion and art collided with creative and style enthusiasts, bloggers and the fashionably cultivated who dressed to impress. If there was any doubt that Ottawa has an expansive art and fashion scene, there shouldn’t be now. Part of the social season of fundraising events, Le pARTy is another opportunity for the fashion community to come together to support a complimentary realm.
Le pARTy 2016 is the last auction to be held at Arts Court before the OAG opens the doors to its expanded gallery next door in 2017. Soon to be located at 50 Mackenzie King Bridge, the OAG expansion coincides with the revitalization of Ottawa’s downtown which includes the reconstruction of Rideau Street, the expansion of the Rideau Centre and construction of the new O-Train Confederation Line light-rail transit project.
For more information on The Ottawa Art Gallery and Le pARTy, please visit ottawaartgallery.ca.