The most-contested item of the night out of 110 entries was a painting of a great blue heron by Ocracoke 5th grader Daymon Esham.
Did anyone doubt that Jennifer Esham was going to win in the end? She's Daymon's aunt, she also owns a business called Blue Heron Realty, and Daymon really wanted her to have it. It was a win-win for all, and OPS made $450. Wow! "It felt good to see how much it went for," Daymon said.
Jennifer didn't stop there – she also took home a painting of Ocracoke's water slide by high school senior Karen Perez and a piece by Gay Bumgardner.
The annual "Ocracoke Through Your Eyes" event at the Ocracoke Preservation Society Museum is a fun evening of good-natured bidding (and out-bidding) that always seems to take place on an especially cold, blustery night each January. It's plenty warm inside the museum, where over 80 people crowded to see and be seen.
Online bidding through the OPS Facebook page makes off-island fans able to participate, while those who come in person enjoy wine, crab dip, and Capt. Rob's cheese straws. There's soda and cookies for the kids, too!
Allison O'Neal is the new administrator at OPS, having taken over the job from Amy Howard on January 1st. "I'm very excited that my first OPS event was such a success," she said. "And I'm grateful for all of the help that I received to get this fundraiser on track. And thanks to all the artsits who gave their time and talent!"
OPS distributed tiny canvasses by request back in the fall, and asked artists to create something that represented Ocracoke to them. The artists donate their work to OPS for the silent auction. This year, there were a record number of pieces (110), which raised the most money ever.
"It's a great time of the year to hold an event like this," said former administrator Amy Howard who now serves on the volunteer executive committee at OPS. "We can take down exhibits and hang the artwork while the museum is closed for the season, and local people and visitors alike look forward to a mid-winter celebration. It's always had a great turnout!"
A visitor from Floyd, VA walked away with four art pieces, notably the highly-coveted leatherwork horses, a late entry made by Tom Phillips. Jared Church came to Ocracoke to enjoy some off-season vacation time, and happened into the Magic Bean coffee shop. "I asked the ladies there what was happening on the island this weekend, and they told me the place to be was here," he said. (The Magic Bean baristas, Lauren Martin and Katy Mitchell, both had entries in the art show.) Jared took home gifts for his daughter, son, stepdaughter, and himself. "It was a good place to spend my money while I'm here," he said.
Part-time Ocracoke resident Shay Trainer battled it out with all comers for the "Preserve Ocracoke" bowl of figs painted by Denise Deacon. Paula Schramel really wanted it, and fought valiantly, but Shay snagged it from her with his last-second bid of $225. "No more raw oysters for you!" Paula had told him during the hubbub of the final countdown. Shay was thrilled to take home the figs, but "I'm going to pay for getting it," he laughed.
Debbie Leonard is a regular at the OPS art show, and she contributed two and took home five works of art. "I'm really excited to get Elsie's and Lauren's," she said of the beach painting by Ocracoke 5th grader Elsie Kattenburg and the live oak painting by Ocracoke senior Lauren Martin. Debbie also got canvasses by Finely Austin (her good friend), Cindy Hichens (a gift for someone special), and Pattie Plyler (I wanted that one!).
Connie Leinbach plundered the piratical piece by Margo Babb. It makes sense that she would want it since she's chair of the Blackbeard's Pirate Jamboree committee and some of the photos on the collage are hers! She's also the proud owner of Kitty Mitchell's painting of "Springer's Sunrise."
Juan Galvis stood guard over his favorite piece, an oil pastel painting of a skiff by Mary Bassell. With his $260 bid on it, he was safe. Juan owns a house on Ocracoke and is a frequent visitor. This was his first OPS art show and he was impressed. "It's awesome – so many unique pieces," he said.
Juan bid on several other canvasses, including a painting of Ocracoke's water slide by thirteen year-old Lou Brock. (His mom is Denise Deacon of the fought-over figs. Talented family!) Lou's best friend, Lachlan Howard, was determined to get the painting as it depicts his own dad and grandpa. He held out 'til the end, beating Juan with a $175 bid. Lou told me it was only the 4th painting he'd ever done. "I'll probably do another one for next year," he said. "Maybe figs."
You can find all the entries on the OPS Facebook page here.