Arts & Jazz returns in Blaine for 22nd annual auction

By Gwen Roley

Dorita Gray said she loves putting together Blaine’s Arts & Jazz event each year because it brings the community together during the dark winter months.

“It’s a time for people to come out of their winter hibernation and support each other at a fun event,” she said.

The Arts & Jazz auction will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 2 at Blaine Middle School. Hosted by the Blaine Fine Arts Association, the  event will include two silent auctions and a live auction with all proceeds going to fine arts programs offered at the Blaine school district.

Items up for auction will include donations from local businesses and individuals. The deadline to have donated items cataloged for the auction is Monday, January 21 and donations must be picked up before February 1. Some of the money raised from the auctions will go toward scholarships for students who are interested in the arts, while the rest  will go toward funding field trips and equipment.

“The school district can only fund so much, donations mean a lot,” said Danielle Dickinson, representing the Blaine Fine Arts Association.

In years past, Arts & Jazz typically raised approximately $3,000 to fund Blaine arts students’ scholarships, said Gray who chairs the auction. Last year they were able to raise over $8,700, some of which will be used by high school art teacher Brian Smith for an educational trip to Europe with art students.

“This year I feel as though the auction has finally become what we set out to make it in the first place,” Gray said. “The event of the season for people to come together and celebrate art.”

BFAA also uses the Arts & Jazz Auction as an opportunity to honor some of the standouts in the Blaine art scene.

The Friend of the Arts award was created to recognize members of the community who make Blaine a more artful place to live. This year, the award will be given to Ted Corso, director of the Drayton Harbor Music Festival.

At the auction, BFAA will honor and exhibit the work of their ‘Artist of Note’ for 2019, Blaine High School sophomore Samantha Johnson.

“[The Arts & Jazz Auction] is a great opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our arts students,” Gray said.

For auction donations or general questions contact Christy Imperio at 360/210-4100, Danielle Dickinson at 360/389-7818, Dorita Gray at 360/305-5835 or Tori Kramme at 360/878-6760 or email BlaineFineArts@gmail.com.