All sorts of political campaigns and causes raise money by asking artists to donate work that can be auctioned off. It’s not often that the artists themselves get the benefits.
So Matt Gonzalez — former supervisor, longtime criminal defense lawyer, and big fan of local arts — is putting together a different type of fund-raiser. It’s an art auction — to benefit the artists.
“This is a kind of thank you to the artists who have donated works in the past,” Gonzalez told me. “All the sale proceeds, every cent, goes directly to the artists. “As a result most artists are starting the bidding on their pieces at 1/3 or 1/2 of the retail price (since there’s no gallery cut to worry about).”
Gonzalez, along with co-sponsors Peter Kirkeby and Aimee Friberg, have paid to rent out Incline Gallery. Beer and wine will be served, cheap. A long list of artists are participating: Adam Feibelman, Alicia Escott, Andrew Schoultz, Anthony Torres, Ben Venom, Bill McRight, Brian Lucas, Christa Assad, Claire Colette, Clare Judith, David Molesky, Ezra Eismont, Felix Macnee, Gianluca Franzese, Gina Borg, Guy Colwell, Harley Lafarrah Eaves, Hilary Pecis, Jean Oppermann, Jet Martinez, Jeff Petersen, Jenny Sharaf, Jonathan Steinberg, Kara Maria, Kathryn Kain, Kelly Ording, Kevin Taylor, Kim Frohsin, Kottie Paloma, Kristen van Diggelen, Kyle Ranson, Lauren Douglas, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Mark Battinger, Mark Van Proyen, Megan Gorham, Megan Seiter, Michael Krause, Michael Rauner, Nellie King Solomon, Paz de la Calzada, Ryan Coffey, Ryan Shaffer, Tahiti Pehrson, Tom Schultz, and Yuri Psinakis.
It’s Friday, April 19, from 6pm – 9pm. Incline Gallery, 766 Valencia.