Silent Auction Preview

We are having a silent auction of more than 35 pieces of art created by the artists invited to participate at the Cary Library Art Sale and Soirée to be held on Sunday, May 2, 6:30-9:00 pm. There are oils, watercolors, sculpture, photographs, jewelry, and ceramics. And then there are the classic portrait sessions and more.

All these works have been generously donated by the artists, and the proceeds from the sale of these works will be used to expand the collections of the Cary Memorial Library.

Michael Alfano is known for his surreal, philosophical, figurative-based sculptures. Questioning Mind, (4 x 6 x 2 in.) can be easily mounted using the embedded hook. It will appeal particularly to people who define themselves by wondering, seeking, and asking questions. Minimum bid $100.	Michael Alfano, Questioning Mind, 4 x 6 x 2 in.
Tasha Balsom, artist and Nursery Care Coordinator at Church Community, has long been fascinated by the 2000-year-old tradition of Chinese Brush Painting. Her Cat (12 x 15 in.) reflects the influence of this ancient spiritual discipline for finding balance between the physical and the spiritual. Minimum bid $50	Tasha Balsom, Cat, 12 x 15 in. Chinese Brush Painting.
Cutting across cultural barriers, many of Michael Bogdanow's works capture the timeless nature of biblical texts. His paintings are exhibited widely and included in many private and institutional collections. Solitude is part of the "Moon Stood Still" series of prints, inspired by the many ways people react to the full moon.	Michael Bogdanow , Solitude.
Gracia Dayton finished her term as President of the New England Watercolor Society. She draws upon landscapes, colors, shapes, and symbols for inspiration. Color is the element that excites her the most. Her watercolor Summer Fields is 14 1/2 x 10 1/2 in and has a retail value of $250.	Gracia Dayton, Summer Fields watercolor, 14 1/2 x 10 1/2.
Known for her etchings of angels, Caroline DiNunzio began her art career in sixth grade. "I won a scholarship to summer art school at the MFA for my portrait of my sulking younger brother. My mother thought I ought to stay home and care for my siblings, but once my father understood what a scholarship meant he took me to school four days a week by trolley from Needham to Huntington Avenue," recalls the artist. Today, Caroline is a life member of the Copley Society. She has donated one of her angels, St. Michael.	Caroline DiNunzio, St. Michael, etching.
Paul Doherty is well known for his compelling images of Massachusetts's architecture and history, and his work has been published in several books. Image # 2050 and Image #2087-1 were taken from the Observation Deck of the Custom House, and Image # 2687-1 was taken from the 33rd floor of 60 State St. The three matted images are in 16 x 20 in. frames.	Paul Doherty, Image # 2050, 16 x 20 in matted photograph in frame. Paul Doherty, Image # 2087-1, 16 x 20 in matted photograph in frame. Paul Doherty, Image # 2687-1, 16 x 20 in matted photograph in frame.
Upon retiring, Allan Dushman turned to art on a full time basis. His oil paintings have been accepted into juried shows at the De Cordova Museum, the Fitchburg Museum, the Copley Society, the Cape Cod Art Association, and the Concord Art Association. His framed 24 x 30 in. oil painting is entitled Spring Ritual.	Allan Dushman, Spring Ritual, 24 x 30 in oil painting.
David Fingerhut's photographs have appeared in books, calendars, and magazines and been shown in 16 countries at exhibits sponsored by the Photographic Society of America. He has been designated a star exhibitor in both nature and color slide photography. His framed 11 x 16 in. photograph, Old North Bridge, is print number 1 in an edition of 50.	David Fingerhut, Old North Bridge, 11 x 16 in. framed photograph.
Massachusetts's painter Michelle Garro works in oil, watercolor, and pastel. Her primary subject matter includes landscapes, portraits, the figure, and still life. Her work is in private and corporate/institutional collections in the U.S. and Europe. In 2004 she opened Garro Studios in Maynard, which provides private and group drawing and painting instruction. Her piece End of Summer II (8 x 10 in.) will be similar to the one shown. Minimum bid $100.	Michelle Garro, End of Summer II, 8 x 10 in. painting.
Ronnie Gould says about her animal sculptures, "My goal is to capture their unique movements, expressions, and personality. My sculptures are individually hand built in stoneware. I use various types of firings, including raku, smoke, and saffar. Just as the animals have their own personalities, the firing processes add unique characteristics to the sculptures." Her stoneware smoke-fired Pig measures 5.5 x 4.5 x 9 in.	Ronnie Gould, Pig, 5.5 x 4.5 x 9 in. smoke-fired stoneware.
Walter Harrington enjoys the challenge of finding artistic beauty in everyday experiences. "Today's digital technology has sparked huge gains in my photography in general and has made photography very exciting to me. Overall, it gives me the ability to make photography an art form," he says. His framed Water Lily in Golden Light is 16 x 20 in.	Walter Harrington, Water Lily in Golden Light, 16 x 20 in. framed photograph.
Arlene Hecht is an award-winning sculptor from Newton, Massachusetts, and the owner and Director of Gallery 333 Fine Art in North Falmouth, Massachusetts. She comments, "I see the beauty of the human form as a flowing melody. I search for music in the pose – rhythm, gesture, motion and emotion. I experience a feeling of magic and excitement as the clay form emerges." Her 7 x 10 in. sculpture, Gymnast, is in resin with a bronze patina. Minimum bid $250.	Arlene Hecht, Gymnast, 7 x 10 in. resin with bronze patina.
A stained glass expert and teacher, MaLinda Howes has a glass studio in Bedford. She has participated in several juried arts shows and is known for her custom stained glass creations as well as for her restorations. Her stained glass piece, Rhapsody in Blue is 7 x 19 1/2 in. Minimum bid $50.	MaLinda Hughes, Rhapsody in Blue, 7 x 19 1/2 in. stained glass
Andrea Karris has shown her whimsical, ocean-inspired jewelry in many shows and sold to local boutiques. She teaches jewelry design in Lexington. She is offering a sea glass and bronze charm bracelet inspired by the ocean.
Aimée McMaster of Kerrington Studios Photography is known for her fine art images and custom portraiture. She is offering two 90-minute classic portrait sessions, retail value $225 each. These include image preparation and proofs available for viewing within 2 weeks after the session. Select your final prints from your own private online gallery. Minimum bid $50 ea.	Aimée McMaster, classic portrait sessions.
She is also donating The Marsh a matted and framed fine art photograph (8 x 12 in. print size) retail value 165.00. Minimum bid $50.	Aimée McMaster, The Marsh, 8 x 12 in. framed photograph.
Marit Menzin is a freelance illustrator whose work appears in children's books and magazines. Her collage auction piece is An African Woman (11 x 14 in.) This piece is a second version of her previous collage entitled, I Love Africa, a finalist at the 2005 Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators national conference. (A giclée print of that work is displayed at the Children's Hospital in Boston.) Minimum bid $150.	Marit Menzin, An African Woman, 11 x 14 in. collage.
Ellen Milan's innovative artwork graces the homes of many private collectors as well as being included in the collections of museums and public institutions. Her original hand-painted silk scarf (8 x 52 in.) has a retail price of $70.	Ellen Milan, 8 x 52 in. silk scarf.
Michael Milburn teaches watercolor and Japanese calligraphy at the New Art Center in Newton, Massachusetts and is president of the Newton Watercolor Society. Through his study of Japanese culture and calligraphy, he has integrated an Asian aesthetic into his work, drawing on nature for inspiration. His paintings are filled with colorful koi, cranes, and bamboo, combined with Japanese calligraphy. His matted and framed Parrot is 9 x 24 in. Minimum bid $240.	Michael Milburn, Parrot 9 x 24 in. watercolor.
The word "Buddha" in Sanskrit means 'to be awakened.' When represented in art, Buddhas are not meant to be objects of worship but rather mirrors of our innermost being. Virginia Peck is well known for her images of Buddha, through which she seeks to convey the idea that beneath the chaotic pace of our modern lives, there exists the possibility for inner peace and transcendence, as reflected in her unframed print Innocence (10.2 x 12 in).	Virginia Peck, Innocence 10.2 x 12 in. unframed print.
The Pierce Galley in the lower lobby of the Cary Memorial Library, a gift of the Marshall family, is named in honor of Marianne Pierce. A Danish-born textile and wallpaper designer, several of her designs have been produced in the United States and Denmark. She extended her skills into printmaking, photography, and photo collage. One of her framed and matted photo collages, The Big Dig (18.5 x 23 in.) has returned to Cary Memorial Library as part of the silent auction.	Marianne Pierce, The Big Dig 18.5 x 23 in. framed photo collage.
Trained as a painter, Tami Rodrig exhibits splendid color sense in her mixed media and sterling jewelry. She combines her metal smith techniques with paint and recycled objects to make jewelry. Valued at $260, her bracelet has sterling silver bezels, a gold leaf and crystal inlay, and small crystals.	Tami Rodrig, bracelet.
Moving from London, England, in 2005 to New England led Gillian Ross on an adventure into a "new world." Here she discovered the world of printmaking with its new materials, skills, and techniques. Her framed monotype, The Winter Promise, measures approximately 27 in. square. Minimum bid $300.	Gillian Ross, The Winter Promise, approx 27 x 27 in. framed monotype.
Janis Sanders works to convey light glancing on a surface in order to communicate the spirit of place. His work is done with a palette knife, often outdoors. His work hangs in collections in the United States and overseas. His oil painting Seapowet is 11 x 11 in.	Janis Sanders, Seapowet, 11 x 11 in. oil painting.
In 1996, Arthur Sharenow became seriously interested in photography as a result of an African safari. He says, "I enjoy capturing images of people and paces around America and the world. I look for beautiful scenes and striking scenes more as a photo journalist than as an artistic photographer." His framed print, California Lighthouse, is 16 x 20 in.	Arthur Sharenow, California Lighthouse, 16 x 20 in. framed photograph.
Popular quilting instructor Jaki Soper is offering her Stack n' Slash Quilt (46 x 63 in.), featuring purple, fuchsia, green, yellow, and black fabrics. A great lap quilt or child's quilt, it sells for $150. Several of her quilts have been selected for display at the Lowell Quilt Festival and other local quilt guild shows.	Jaki Soper, 46 x 63 in. quilt.
Mary Svenson has taught at eight national conventions and designed and marketed pattern packets in both acrylics and oils. Her Jingle Bell (6-in.) ornament is hand painted like the one she designed for the White House Christmas tree in 2004. Minimum bid $30.	Mary Svenson, Jingle Bell 6 in. ornament.
Lexington resident Dan Trajman is a sculptor working in wood. His encounters with wood reconstitute the totemic power of trees through a painstaking focus on minutiae. By working with small fragments of red cedar, painted wood, and natural wood, he transforms familiar material into mythic forms. Trajman describes his work as intellectual social commentary that is also instinctually and emotionally created from the gut. His wood sculpture, High Noon, is 17 x 19 x 5 in. Minimum bid $500.	Dan Trajman, High Noon 17 x 19 x 5 in. wood sculpture.
Karen Watson's mixed media collages and assemblages have been prized in the art world for decades. She has donated a high wooden box entitled Time Flies (7 1/4 x 5 x 5 in). The top is a collage on wood, with a hard, satiny finish, and the sides are painted and distressed. Minimum bid $50.	Karen Watson, Time Flies, 7 1/4 x 5 x 5 in. box; the top is this collage.
Photography has been a passion for Linda Williamson since she was a young girl. Famous for her portrait photography, her landscape images have also been in several books and many shows. Her 16 x 20 in. Old North Bridge is matted and framed and accompanied by six cards with the same image.	Linda Williamson, Old North Bridge, 16 x 20 in. frame photograph.
A trial lawyer by day, Al Zabin has been a passionate photographer since about age 10. His photographs combine contrast in light, color, and texture with repeating shapes and patterns. His compositions emphasize strong abstract elements of realistic subject matter. His matted image entitled Lupine in Torres del Paine is 11.5 x 14.5 in. Minimum bid $25.	Al Zabin, Lupine in Torres Del Paine, 11.5 x 14.5 in. matted photograph.
Melanie Zibit works primarily in marble, carving pieces that reflect the human form to create a universal statement. Her sculpture has been described as, "liquid, flowing forms endowed with a dignified energy, dynamically serene, self-contained and communicative." Her 4.5 x 12 x 4.5 in. donation is entitled Kicking Up. Minimum bid $350.	Melanie Zibit, Kicking Up, 4.5 x 12 x 4.5 in. marble sculpture.
With a $40 gift certificate, you can browse and buy Sweet Beads' selection of beads, findings, kits, and gift items. Sweet Beads offers classes and events for adults and youth, and even birthday parties. • Sweet Beads 1792 Mass Ave. Lexington, MA 02420	Sweet Beads $40 Gift Certificate
Twin sisters from Bedford with a love for children, art, and education founded Excited 2 Learn. Excited 2 Learn takes pride in creating high-quality products designed with your child's educational and developmental needs in mind, created using original artwork. Their products make learning fun. Excited 2 Learn (www.excited2learn.com) offers three items:
1. Our Hippo's Bedtime Routine for 1-6 year olds is a visually appealing, interactive, bedtime routine chart specifically designed to help children transition from being awake to sleeping soundly through the night. The chart includes a variety of "bedtime activity cards" that can be selected as part of a child's nightly routine. Once the activity is completed, the child moves the card onto the "bedtime" section of the chart.	Excited 2 Learn, Our Hippo's Bedtime Routine.
2. Find a Match Game for 3-5 year olds. A new twist on an old concept, this game challenges children's memory and counting skills by having them look for matching pairs of cards. While the concept of the game is geared towards younger children, it is a perfect way to get parents and older siblings involved with younger family members.	Excited 2 Learn, Find a Match Game.
3. Monkalicious Short Sleeve T-shirt from Lilabee Clothes, printed with original designs on 100% cotton.	Excited 2 Learn, Monkalicious Flies T-shirt.