This Saturday evening, Nov. 25, is a very special evening for aspiring artists in the visual and audio fields. The annual art auction which benefits the Anne McKee Artists Fund will be held at the East Martello Museum at 8 p.m. The auction will be preceded by a reception at 6:30 p.m.
A display of the finest of Key West artists has been shown at East Martello location for the past month featuring many local favorites like Jack Baron and David Laughlin.
Unlike many other auctions, the artists keep 50 percent of the proceeds, with the remaining 50 percent going to the Artist's Fund. This arrangement has encouraged the best of Key West area artists to enter.
The Anne McKee Artist's fund was organized in 1992 by local philanthropist Anne McKee as a means to provide seed money to aspiring artists who have talents in all artistic fields. McKee is no longer on the Board of Directors of the Fund, now headed by Dr. Loui Franke, but she remains active as an advisor to the organization.
The fund is open to all living from Big Pine south to Key West. Grants are project oriented and may lead to a painting or performance, or even the release of a musical CD. Grants are awarded up to $1,000.
Recently the Fund departed from its grant cycle and awarded money to the keys Kids production of the Wizard of Oz held two weeks ago at the Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center. This money was used to fund, in part, the live orchestra provided by members of the Key West Symphony Orchestra, and the production was highly acclaimed by the community and the press.
Past recipients of the Fund are a roster of many famous Key Westers who have made their mark in the performing arts field. Past winners include Melissa Goins Touche, Richard Zendarsk8i, Skipper Kravitz, Dan CoCo, Nora Revlon, Beverly Horlock, Alison Meyer, Zoe Hawkins-Wells, and Joe Lowe. Since 1992 over $60,000 in seed money has been awarded in the local community.
For the art auction Saturday evening, there will be a $10 donation requested at the door. The reception, catered by Square One Restaurant, with complimentary drinks, begins at 6:30 p.m., and the art auction starts at 8.
For more information about the Anne McKee Artist's Fund, please call Dr. Loui Franke at 296-2074. For more information about the show and auction, please contact Jim Salem, 744-9880.