Wine and dime: Taste of Fine Arts fundraiser Friday
Yuma Fine Arts Association kicks off its biggest fundraiser of the year Friday with a winning combination of great art, live music and gourmet goodies.
The 7th Annual Taste of Fine Arts will treat art lovers to an evening of performances by local musicians, a silent art auction, wine tasting and an array of flavors from local restaurants.
"There will be great wine and great food," said Carolyn Bennett, executive director of Yuma Fine Arts Association. "This is always such a fun event."
Taste of Fine Arts will run from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Yuma Art Center, 254 Main St.
Admission to the event is $30 per person or $55 for two people. For more information call 329-6607 for more information.
About 300 people attend the popular event each year.
The live music at this year's event will feature the sounds of the native flute and piano.
The silent auction will boast a multitude of artistic treasures, including a glass sculpture by Judy Phillips, a piece from Tomkins Pottery, pottery by artists Angel Luna and Holly Hendrick-Jones and a print by Larry Yanez.
Bennett stressed that Taste of Fine Arts isn't just an annual good time, the event also represents a crucial funding source for Yuma Fine Arts.
"It's very important because due to the economy our donations are currently down," she said. "Just like any other nonprofit organization our bills don't go down, but our donations do."
The timing of the event is also important, coming right before summer when donations and gallery sales traditionally decline.
"This is our chance to make enough money at this time to make it through the summer, to put it bluntly," Bennett said. "This event helps us through the lean times."
But the benefits of Taste of Fine Arts don't stop there. She added that the event also gives the art association a great opportunity to show off its galleries and gift shop.
"Many people who come to Taste of Fine Arts may not come to any other opening. This exposes them to the art we have and introduce them to the art center, which is such a wonderful facility," Bennett said. "For people who have never come before, Taste of Fine Arts lets them know we're here, what we have to offer and that this is truly the cultural center of Yuma."
Exhibits currently on display at the Yuma Art Center are shows by the Yuma Art Symposium, Holly Hendrick-Jones and Scott Jones, and Khalid Alkaaby.
The next show coming to the center will be a sculpture exhibit by San Diego-based artist Peter Mitten. That show will open on April 9.
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Darin Fenger can be reached at dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.
