Staff
Fort High students are organizing an art auction and dinner to raise money for a trip to the “Big Apple” later this spring.
The “Taste of New York” fundraiser is slated for this Monday (March 7) from 6-8 p.m. at the high school cafeteria.
Just under two dozen students—mostly seniors—will be going to New York City for a week in early April, noted Fort High teacher Owen Johnston, and the fundraiser is to help cover their costs.
“What we’re running is an auction of decorative and artistic items that businesses and individuals have donated,” Johnston explained.
“Some of the things we’re auctioning are student works, some of them are commercially-made decorative items, some of them are made by local artists,” he noted.
One of the bigger-ticket items for the evening is a limited edition print from Canadian artist Carl Beam, which will be up for live auction.
“He’s pretty significant, very political, very interesting contemporary artist,” Johnston said about Beam, an Ojibwe from Manitoulin Island who passed away in 2005.
“He’s somebody that’s influenced by Andy Warhol; he’s a silk screen artist and painter.
“He’s a really interesting Canadian art personality.”
Handmade quilts, along with smaller decorative artworks, also will be up for auction in a variety of formats.
For the $15 ticket, people also will get a “taste of New York”—with an appetizer menu prepared by Mr. Connor’s hospitality class.
This will include items like cheesecakes, knishes, and other foods that make people “think of New York when you hear of them,” said Johnston.
As well, live entertainment will be provided by local talent.
Tickets for the fundraiser are available in advance at Northwoods Gallery & Gifts.
Fundraising and planning for this week-long trip has been ongoing for more than a year, Johnston noted, adding many students have been excited about this trip since Grade 9.
“So we’re doing things like seeing the musical ‘American Idiot,’ that’s based on the music by Green Day,” he cited.
“We’re going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rockefeller Centre, where they film ‘30 Rock,’ [and] the amateur night at the Apollo Theatre.”
