Hanging the Patron's Show

David, John and Janice getting a little punchy

      It is February and once again time for the Art League of Alexandria Virginia's annual fundraiser, THE PATRON'S SHOW!  This year marks the 45th.  I have been hanging this show for years (not 45 of them) with much of the same wonderful crew.  I got home two hours ago from the first day of hanging and we really did an incredible job!  We started at noon and worked until 5:00 and we already have about half the show up.  Volunteers will be coming in to continue hanging the rest of the week and works will continue to be donated.  I am betting there will be around 600 works available.  How it works.....donations of works of art are outright donations on the part of the artists.  Patrons can buy a ticket for $175 which guarantees they will walk out with a work of art.  All works donated must have a value of at least $175 and many works are valued in the thousands.  Tickets went on sale in mid January and almost immediately sold out.  There is a lengthy waiting list.  Those lucky enough to have tickets will be coming in all week to make a list of their favorites so when their number is called they know what work or works they want to claim.  The day of the actual Patron's Show event, when the drawing takes place, they have to pay attention because if one of the works they have on their list is claimed by someone else first they must cross it out and hope they can get their next choice.  This is one of the hottest tickets in town and people have been known to sleep outside in sleeping bags to wait for the tickets to go on sale. Now THAT is an art lover!   
      This year I donated six framed paintings.  Three are plein air and three are studio pieces.  If any of my collectors are reading this I can tell you the plein air pieces are "Red Fishing Boat", "From the Torpedo Factory Dock" and "Capitol Columns, the National Arboretum".  You can find them on my small paintings page on my website.  The studio pieces are "Potomac, Prelude to the Great Falls", "Souvenir du Bal" and "Deep in the Woods". The latter is not on the website but the other two are on Gallery I and People and Things respectively. http://www.jeanschwartzpaintings.com/                            

Bob and Georgia with the cherry picker

You might want to check the Art League blog and website for more information http://www.theartleague.org/        

      I am still working on "6th and Constitution" and have also started a new painting of the Potomac which I will show you in tomorrow's post.     I haven't painted since Sunday because yesterday I was involved all day with framing and packing the paintings I shipped to New York for the auction at the Salmagundi Club.  I will post images of those paintings and tell you how to participate if you are interested in making a bid on any of them.  The auction will be both live and online.
      Now for a cup of tea and an evening of rest!            

Bill and friend (we think she is a volunteer left over from last year, this job can be stupifying)



Lisa and one of her paintings to the left, the one of the seated woman



Tom and Bruce at the hardware table