Mabee-Gerrer Museum

SHAWNEE, Okla. — An unusual art event that guarantees all ticket buyers an original work of art by a local or Oklahoma City metro area artist is being planned to fund Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art’s special exhibits next season.  It’s not an art sale. It’s not a dinner-auction. 
It is “Off the Wall 2009,” at the museum on the St. Gregory’s University campus, Shawnee, at 6:30 p.m., Friday, April 17. Tickets are now on sale.

“Off the Wall 2009” is a spring fundraiser for the museum created by a committee of Mabee-Gerrer Museum volunteers and staff patterned along the lines of a slightly different event held by a non-profit Oklahoma City art gallery.

How it works: One $50 ticket buys one work of art and admission for two, Hors d’oeuvres, wine, punch and a variety of desserts, guitar and violin entertainment by Douglas Hurt, Shawnee. It also includes an opportunity during the first hour to view 100 art pieces donated by 45 local and Oklahoma City area artists. And, during the second hour, the $50 ticket will be drawn from one of three boxes of tickets purchased. When that ticket is drawn, the buyer will have 30 seconds to choose a work of art.

 

Planners project that paintings will be flying off the wall. “It will be a lot of fun,” said Kathy Rick, Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art volunteers president.

If the ticket buyer wants a better chance to get the painting or other art piece he or she likes best, the $50 ticket may be upgraded by paying $25 or $50 more. Random drawings of tickets upgraded to $100 will be from the first box while tickets upgraded to $75 will be from the second box. All the remaining $50 tickets will be drawn from the third box until all are out.

  “Everyone who comes and pays $50 (for a ticket) will go home with a piece of artwork,” said Tonya Ricks, museum director of development. Upgrading a $50 ticket to a $100 one “still does not guarantee they’ll get their choice, but it increases their chances,” she said.

 Ken Busby, executive director of the Tulsa Art and Humanities Council will be emcee.
Refreshments will be provided by Mabee-Gerrer volunteers.

The 100 art works on the wall will include “a variety: acrylic and oil paintings, some original prints, some mixed media, one will be wood and at least one will be a glass piece; all types and styles of art,” Ricks said. All will be 9x12 inches in size or smaller, un-mounted and unframed.

Tickets may be purchased by calling 405-878-5604 or from a Mabee-Gerrer Volunteer.

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