By DANA DUGAN and SABINA DANA PLASSE
Express Staff Writers
In a true congress of the art world, galleries and visual artists are reaching across genre distinctions to help save the nexStage Theatre. A live auction entitled Art for Art will be held Saturday, July 21, from 2:30 to 5 p.m. with special guest glass master and artist Dale Chihuly.
NexStage, Ketchum's only performing arts space, is nearing its campaign goal of $1.5 million to purchase the theater property at 120 Main St. in Ketchum. The theater's board of trustees hopes to raise the remaining $100,000 needed to complete its goal.
Chihuly will meet guests and sign 100 copies of his newest book, "Fire," during the reception. In addition, Chihuly donated a painting.
Several other well-known artists have donated works. They include photographer Edie Baskin, photographer Michelle Morby, stonemason Edwin Hamilton, calligraphy painter Ian Boyden and painter Gordon Stevenson.
A recent graduate of Bard College, Stevenson's work focuses on the medium rather than subject. He says his work is "dependent on the interaction of the paints and chemicals with the canvas or other surfaces such as glass, plexiglass or wood."
Baskin, a part-time Ketchum resident of many years, shows her work at Ochi. She's best known for her witty and engaging opening photomontage for Saturday Night Live.
In 2003, she captured the contemporary spirit of the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians in Indio, Calif.
"My work has taken me on an incredible journey from documenting television history to shooting portraits of objects and famous faces," Baskin said. "This project has allowed me to delve deeper into the unknown and I am proud of what I've captured and revealed."
The works were donated by either the artist directly or Ketchum gallery owners. Participating organizations include the Broschofsky, Friesen, Gail Severn, Ochi and Ann Reed galleries.
The reception will include wine and light refreshments with music by pianist Alan Pennay. Renowned auctioneer David Reynolds, fortuitously in town for the Sun Valley Wine Auction, will handle the bidding, which will start promptly at 4 p.m. Auction items can be previewed at the theater in the morning of Saturday, July 21. There will be absentee bid forms available at the theater.
For more details, call the nexStage Theatre (208) 726-9124.
"Green Door Dancers" by Michelle Morby, is influenced by the French graffiti subculture. This photograph will be auctioned at the nexStage Theatre Saturday, July 21.
