With over 600 art patrons and artists in attendance, the Artist Trust Benefit Art Auction 2008 was a huge success, grossing over $225,000! Proceeds from the Annual Art Auction support Artist Trust programs for Washington State artists, including Grants for Artist Projects (GAP) and Fellowship grants, EDGE Professional Development Program, and extensive Information Services.

[image from the 2008 Benefit Art Auction, courtesy Scott Squire]

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The magical Fund-A-GAP portion of the evening specifically raised $42,200 providing direct support for our Grants for Artist Projects during the star-studded moment when 28 artists took the stage, including acclaimed musician Bill Frisell, award-winning public artist Norie Sato, donating Auction artists Juan Alonso and Margie Livingston, with an impassioned testimonial from legendary poet and MacArthur "Genius'' Linda Bierds.

Other highlights of the evening included:

• the high-energy tempo of the Dusty 45s and Billy Joe's Flaming Trumpet;
• the buzz of conversation between artists and collectors about the artwork;
• the frenzy of bidding for the lithograph of a rare Jacob Lawrence painting;
• and, of course, those giant dancing puppets!

We hope you continue to be engaged in all that we do year-round to support artists of Washington State. We welcome guests to all of our award and EDGE receptions where we celebrate the ingenious creativity of artists of all disciplines.

Your generosity makes a huge difference for Artist Trust -- thank you for supporting art at the source!

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For more images, please click here, then click on "Artist Trust Auction" and type in: Fisher.