What's Up

       It's hard to believe, but about a whole year has gone by since the time we started publishing What's Up. The reason I know this is because our first issue was #16. What's Up #14 was last year's issue that featured Art From The Heart on the cover. To be honest with you, I've been anxiously awaiting Art From The Heart Two ever since I went to Art From The Heart last year. I had such a great time!

       When I first heard about the event last year, I though to myself that there probably wouldn't be anything there that I could afford. You know, it's an art auction... I figured that everything there would be really expensive. Such was not the case at all! There were some really nice things there for less than $10. Everyone who went to the show could have come home with something special to remember the evening by. As it turned out, Terry and I did spend a bit of money on an original John Sokol painting that now makes a lovely addition to our living room.

       Even if you hadn't bought anything, you still would have had a great time. There was lots of tasty finger food, soft drinks, beers and mixed drinks, and a variety of live entertainment all going on in a very interesting, multi-level building, full of beautiful objects of art to enjoy and scores of friendly people to talk to. Terry and I met several nice people there that are very active in the community and we are still in regular contact with them today.

       A large portion of the art was sold via silent auction. Pads of paper were posted near each piece that you would write your bidding number and bid on. If someone else came by later that liked the piece too, they might out bid you, so you had to keep checking on your favorite objects throughout the evening to make sure that you had the highest bid. It got kind of interesting when the auction committee came by to take the last bids! Many other pieces of art were sold via a standard vocal auction toward the end of the event. I remember Don Brown holding up a cute little puppy dog that got sold to some lucky new owner. Now that's art man! This year I hope to be able to finish a few things that I'm working on to donate to the auction. Look for them!

       The event last year raised more than $40,000 for The Community AIDS Network. It was fairly well attended, although, I would say that much less than half of the people there were faces that I recognized from the community. So this year I'll see YOU there, right?