COVINGTON — In the 10 years since the Behringer-Crawford Museum started sending artists into Devou Park to create works for auction, the annual freshART event has grossed between $300,000 and $350,000 for participating artists and the museum's educational programming.

Artist Martine Khadr-Van Schoote of Fort Thomas has been a part of the freshART project for 10 years. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

        “I would recommend it to anybody who enjoys this kind of thing,” said 10-year participant Martine Khadr-Van Schoote. The 72-year-old Fort Thomas artist said she enjoys painting from her hilltop vantage point.

        “I enjoy the fact that you can create your art in the morning and auction it off that evening,” Mrs. Khadr-Van Schoote said.

        This Saturday morning, 33 established and aspiring Tristate artists will scatter into the 700 acres of Devou Park to choose scenes for paintings or sketches, or to create a brand new work from natural debris in the medium of his or her choice. The only rule is that they create a new work within the park's boundaries that day.

        In the evening, the works will be unveiled during a cocktail reception and dinner celebrating the arts, and the art will be auctioned to the highest bidders. Artists split the proceeds from the sale 50/50 with the museum's art education programming.

IF YOU GO

What: Behringer-Crawford Museum's 10th annual freshART auction.     When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Preview, cocktails and dinner hors d'oeuvres at 6:30 p.m. After the auction (about 9:15 p.m.), gourmet desserts and specialty coffees will be served.     Where: Behringer-Crawford Museum, Devou Park in Covington     Cost: Admission to the auction and cocktail/dinner reception is $25 per person. The auction is in the museum amphitheatre and will be moved to the Memorial Building in Devou Park in case of rain. Reservations are available by calling the museum at (859) 491-4003. Other features: Silent auction featuring previously-created works by many of the participating artists runs through Sunday.     Bids taken during the museum's regular hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Friday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.

        Laurie Risch, the Behringer-Crawford Museum's executive director, said museum supporters borrowed the idea from a museum in the East. “We thought this would be a different type of fund-raiser,” Ms. Risch said. “Ten years ago, there were hardly any art auctions” in the Tristate.

        The freshART auction also is a way to show off the many facets of the Behringer-Crawford Museum, she said.

        “So many people still think of Behringer-Crawford as a natural history museum,” Ms. Risch said. “This was one way that we could spread the word that the museum is much more, with its focus on (Northern Kentucky's) cultural heritage and art history.”

        Along with the freshART auction, previously created works by many participating artists will be displayed at the museum through Sunday and are available for purchase through a silent auction.

        Some of the benefiting educational programs include those on folk art, architecture, artist Harlan Hubbard and American Indian design and pottery.

        “It ends up truly back with the schoolchildren,” Ms. Risch said of the auction.

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