Art Perchance 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Minneapolis, September 10, 2009—The creative fund-raiser called Art Perchance celebrates its sixth year on Friday, September 25, at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA.) Presented by the Friends of the Institute, a portion of the proceeds from this year’s “artful carnival” will benefit the Friends Transportation Fund at the MIA.
This year’s annual fall fund-raiser includes art-themed carnival games created by local artist Nancy Waller, along with an auction and a series of drawings to win jury-selected original works of art by local artists and from regional galleries. A record number of art works was submitted to the jury this year; as a result, more than 95 high-quality works of art presenting many mediums, including oils and watercolors, photography, jewelry, wood, and sculpture will be up for grabs by chance or bid at the event. Artists include photographer Alec Soth, critically acclaimed potter Richard Bresnahan, and painter Doug Argue who was recently named “Artist of the Year” by London International Creative Company.
“The success of this fun and slightly funky event has been recognized by Mpls.St.Paul magazine, which named Art Perchance the Best Fund-raising Project this year,” said Friends President Katie Searl. “The Friends are on the brink of topping $400,000 in funds raised by Art Perchance.”
The intent of Art Perchance is to support the Friends Transportation Fund, which underwrites the cost of schoolbus transportation to the MIA for area school- children. Last year’s event contributed $30,000 to the endowment of the fund, which helped bring more than 3,000 schoolchildren to the MIA in 2008-2009. This year, the Friends have instituted a “Build a Bus” program in which donors can buy a tire, perhaps, or a windshield, to “build” a symbolic bus.
Art Perchance festivities will also include complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. The evening begins with a Patrons’ Reception at 6 p.m., followed by the public opening at 7. Tickets for the event are $75 and can be purchased online at www.artsmia.org/art-perchance, or by calling (612) 870-3279.
Art Perchance is organized by The Friends of the Institute. The co-chairs for this year’s event are Barb Edin and Lorraine Palkert.
The Friends of the Institute
The Friends of the Institute is a volunteer group that works to broaden the influence of the Minneapolis Institute of Art by supporting its activities and forwarding its interests. Everyone who is a member of the MIA may become a member of the Friends. For more information, please contact the Friends Office at (612) 870-3045.
About the Minneapolis Institute of Art
The Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA), home to one of the finest encyclopedic art collections in the country, houses more than 80,000 works of art representing 5,000 years of world history. Highlights of the permanent collection include European masterworks by Rembrandt, Poussin, and van Gogh; modern and contemporary painting and sculpture by Picasso, Matisse, Mondrian, Stella, and Close; as well as internationally significant collections of prints and drawings, decorative arts, Modernist design, photographs, and Asian, African, and Native American art. General admission is always free. Some special exhibitions have a nominal admission fee. Museum hours: Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Monday closed. For more information, call (612) 870-3131 or visit www.artsmia.org.
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Press Contacts: Tammy Pleshek, Public Relations Specialist
(612) 870-3171; tpleshek@artsmia.org
Anne-Marie Wagener, Public Relations Director
(612) 870-3280; awagener@artsmia.org