The 20th annual Spring Gala and Silent Art Auction, on behalf of Jacksonville State University’s Visual Arts Society (VAS), was held on May 17 at the Victoria Inn in Anniston.
Gale Brodie, Jean Pugliese, Linda Mann and Jason Wright — as well as other VAS Board members — organized the event with help from Jane Greene, Ron Baker and Sharon Wasden. JSU President Bill Meehan and his wife, Beth Meehan, were on hand to greet those in attendance.
The weather could not have made for a more perfect evening. Guests spilled out onto the Victoria’s lovely tiered patio to socialize with friends and listen to the music of the Manabu Saeki Band, a jazz trio.
Everyone enjoyed sampling a variety of red and white wines as well as delectable hors d’oeuvres. Those yummies included platters of seasonal vegetables, mushroom and goat cheese tartlets, lump crab cakes and roast beef bites with horseradish cream.
While mixing and mingling continued outside, the silent auction inside The Victoria’s front dining room was in full swing. Almost two dozen pieces of art, donated by area artists, covered a variety of mediums, from oil paintings to jewelry and prints. Those pieces were in hot bidding wars all evening!
The area artists whose work was up for grabs included Dr. David Cummings, who donated an enchanting photograph entitled “Paris for Lovers,” shot in a garden with the Eiffel Tower visible in the background. Another print — “Garden Gate at Kent” taken in Kent County, England, was donated by David’s wife, Lesa Cummings. David and Lesa’s daughter, Lori Cummings, proved that artistic talent runs in the family with her donation of a hand-blown glass vase and bowl.
Other auction items included an oil painting by Lee Manners, who served as head of the JSU art department for 20 years, and a heliogravure print from Jauneth Skinner, who is the current department head.
Diana Cadwallader, Jack Hadder, Paulette B. Parks, Bryce Lafferty and George Cox all donated watercolor pieces.
Retired Anniston architect Julian Jenkins donated a charcoal sketch while local artist Betty Groover crafted a mosaic mirror.
Birmingham artist Sally Wood Johnson donated a series of digital prints. Laverne Lombardi provided a knitted and beaded boa fashioned from recycled silk fiber. Allison McElroy donated an elemental object collection entitled “Flightless.”
A ceramic vase and teapot was donated by JSU art professor Steve Loucks, and a crocheted necklace and watch were given by Dawn Swenson.
Anita H. Stewart donated a color photograph that she took of the old Anniston Land Company building. Retired Army Maj. Rose Munford Tolliver donated a collage crafted from recycled magazine pieces.
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