Island Mountain Arts is sparking up the barbie, and art appreciators are warming up their auction arms.
The arts organization operates the IMA gallery in Wells, hosts the annual ArtsWells Festival each summer, operates a school of the arts and causes cultural development to occur all over the Cariboo.
This is their 40th year of operation, hence the barbecue and fundraiser on Saturday evening.
They are calling this event Bids, Brews & a BBQ and it takes place in Quesnel at the campus of CNC.
"The night includes a live auction filled with amazing items such as artworks by Marie Nagel, Corey Hardeman, Robert Bateman, Sonia Cornwall and Edward Epp to name just a few," said IMA executive director Julie Fowler.
"In addition to the art there are unique items such as a house concert with Stephen Fearing, a 'plein air' painting picnic in Wells/Barkerville/Bowron with Peter Corbett, a personalized poem by Patrick Kearns, tickets to the Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival, two nights at the luxurious Watermark Beach Resort in Osoyoos, and a white water adventure down the Quesnel River with Big Canyon Rafting.
"Our auctioneer, Paul Crawford, well known as the enigmatic host of the One Minute Play Festival, will be keeping the night lively with interesting anecdotes about the items and by giving out some special prizes."
Following the auction, the food will flow.
The sizzling barbecue work will be done by Savalas Steak House on the community grill provided to Quesnel by Integris Credit Union. The suds will be provided by Barkerville Brewing Company and the vino by Bench 1775 Winery of Naramata.
"And speaking of imbibing, there will be an open bar and appetizers beginning when the doors open at 5:30 p.m. to make sure everyone is ready to throw that bid paddle in the air by 6 p.m.," said Fowler.
"Truly a celebration of 'all things art,' the night will finish with live music by the band Old Cabin from the Yukon."
Tickets for this one-of-a-kind event ($35 for IMA members or $50 for non-members and a membership is included in the purchase) are available at Barkerville Brewing Company, the Quesnel Visitor Centre, at Island Mountain Arts in Wells, or online at the IMA website (www.imarts.com) where you can also bid now on the art up for auction.
The online bidding stops on Friday at 11:59 p.m., and you can also leave a proxy maximum bid on many of the items so you are in the auction action even during the live festivities.
For personal contact, including over-the-phone ticket sales, or any information, call IMA toll free at 1-800-442-2787.
