By Emily Bishop

The second Saturday in April was a hot day in Cooper-Young. Temperatures reached over 80 degrees and everyone was out enjoying the weather. The Art for Art’s Sake Auction kicked off at 6pm, and just as the temperature cooled off outside, it heated up inside the Young Avenue Deli for another great fundraiser for the Cooper-Young Community Association. Ric Chetter, local radio personality and CY resident, opened the bidding on 21 items in the live auction. The silent auction tables simmered with action as bidders checked on their items throughout the evening. The tally for the event is $13,758, with $7,040 raised in the live auction. Expenses for the event were $526.74 for a net of $13,231.26 for the CYCA. These funds will be used to support the Trestle Art as well as other community enhancement projects in Cooper-Young. Thanks to everyone who came out to support our Art for Art’s Sake Auction.

The vendors from the Cooper-Young Festival, local businesses, and local artists all contributed to the success of the event. Thanks again to Otherlands Coffee Bar for hosting the Artist’s Reception and Fork It Over Catering for providing the food for the reception. The Auction couldn’t happen without the support of Tiger Bryant and Phillip Stroud from the Young Avenue Deli in providing the space and the food for the event, and the staff of the Young Avenue Deli was phenomenal! Camy’s added a sweet touch to the event by providing dessert, Southwestern Distributing and Budweiser Memphis provided the beer, and Bluff City Sports Prints provided the t-shirts for our volunteers.

A special thanks to the following volunteers who put in an amazing number of hours preparing for and working at the auction.

Susannah Acuff • Andy Ashby • Sydney Ashby • Amanda Ball • Emily Bishop • April Boleware
Ben Boleware • Leslie Boone • John Browning • Ty Browning • Karen Capps • Nick Canterucci
Tristan Causey • Scott Cooper • Kathy Fisher • Joan Foley • Sarah Frierson • Edward Greene • Amanda Hill • Jonathan Hill Kristan Huntley • June Hurt • Sharron Johnson • Jill Kauker • Chris Kauker • John Kinsey • Scott Massey • Renee Massey • Tripp Mazurek • Chris McHaney
Patrick Miller • Chuch Parr • Bill Pritchard • Beth Pulliam • Steve Pulliam • Kevin Ritz
Carol Robison • Chaderlee Roy-Shellabarger • Lekha Samuel • Joe Samuel • Kate Schurch
Ted Schurch • Debbie Sowell • Buzz Shellabarger • Judi Shellabarger • Guillermo Umbria
Lizi Beard Ward • Tim Ward • Jason Word • Jennifer Word

Thanks to the artists who donated work for our live auction:

Judy Vandergrift • Allen Portner • Donna Blackard • Mollie Jay Riggs • Mary Long-Postal
Duane & Pamela Dunaway • Maria Parham • Kelly Gourds  • Alex Warble • Lisa Lumb
Rollin M. Kocsis • Jeanne Seagle • Carol Robinson • Kyl-el Comix • Karen Bottle Capps
Paul Clarke • John Browning • Lee Phenix

By Susannah Acuff

If you’ve lived in this neighborhood awhile, I know that you are more than familiar with the Trestle Art over Cooper Street, and you are probably aware of the Art for Art’s Sake Auction that takes place each April to raise funds for its upkeep. This year the Art Auction will take place on Saturday, April 9, at Young Avenue Deli from 6-9:30pm, where treasures created by local artists and contributions from area businesses will be up for grabs. Radio personality and CY resident Ric Chetter will be the auctioneer for the live auction, and there will be a silent auction as well. We all know what a great time the Art Auction is, but perhaps you have never considered the importance of this event or why maintaining the Trestle Art matters.
When I first moved to Cooper-Young in 1990 as a seven-year-old, it was a community on the cusp of revitalization. It was a struggling crossroads in Midtown. The main reason for my family’s entry into the neighborhood was that my single mother was able to buy a nice-sized, extremely affordable home for us at the corner of York and New York. Back then old hippies, single-parent families, artists, and elderly residents who had lived in their homes since the 1940s and 50s were the norm. CY was working class but on the rise. There was still a considerable amount of crime, but despite these incidents there was a sense of promise and belonging which cemented residents firmly to their turf.
The neighborhood was always a magnet for artists and creative-types. If the low cost of property and central locale didn’t give that fact away, it could easily be determined by a look around at the plethora of quirky yard art and porch decorations. Tie-dye was a particularly common theme, if my memory serves me correctly. Much like today, creative expression was everywhere – open-mic nights, live local music, off-beat festivals, and unusual businesses a plenty. Cooper-Young welcomed everyone, particularly alternative-types looking for an open-minded community. It was a place where diversity was unapologetically embraced.
By the mid-90s, houses were flipping and new businesses were moving in at a moderate rate. The Cooper-Young Festival was attracting floods of people, and CY was gaining validity in the city. The late-90s ushered in unprecedented advances. Homes were sold and renovated seemingly overnight. Crime diminished. Community residents and advocates were streamlining the look of things as a reflection of neighborhood pride.
At its dedication in 2000, the Trestle Art served to crown the Cooper-Young gateway at the apex of both the millennium and the revitalization movement. The lights inside the Trestle’s houses shine brightly at night. The inclusion of such a detail seems a befitting nod to the artists and creative spirits who played a major role in the neighborhood’s collective identity and relentless advancement.
I look back on my youth in Cooper-Young with nostalgia. In a sense, I grew up alongside the neighborhood. Now at 27, I’m preparing for my first solo show as an artist. I feel that I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the neighborhood artists who demonstrated that creativity is valid and necessary. Though most of the artists who lived on my street in the 90s have moved on (from the set designer who lived behind us and sculpted timber on Saturdays, to the musicians practicing on their porches in the summertime), I want to take this moment to say thank you. Thank you to all of the artists who have contributed to the community.
Artist Jill Turman, the CY Community Association, the Community Foundation, and the Urban Art Commission are responsible for gifting Cooper-Young with the Trestle Art. Who is responsible for maintaining it? The art is public, even though the Trestle is officially owned by the CYCA. Those of us who enjoy public art have a responsibility to support it. After all, “higher levels of cultural participation change the social environment by fostering a sense of collective efficacy – the willingness of people in a community to act together in public matters of collective and individual interest,” according to the Social Impact of the Arts Project (SIAP), a research center at the University of Pennsylvania. SIAP also found that, “neighborhoods with an active arts scene were nearly three times more likely to see their poverty rates decline and their population increase.” I know my community pride soared when I first saw the Trestle Art. In light of such evidence, I urge you to do your part to support the public art that Cooper-Young has and to encourage more.
You can help the CYCA finance the maintenance, insurance, utilities, and repairs of public art like the Trestle Art by attending this year’s Art for Art’s Sake Auction on Saturday, April 9. Auction entrance is $20 for non CYCA members or $15 for members. The best way to purchase your ticket is online at cooperyoung.org. You may also email info@cooperyoung.org or call 901-272-2922 to arrange the purchase of your ticket. Please come out and show your appreciation for and support of public art in our community!

This is going to be an exciting month for Cooper-Young! On April 9, from 6–9:30pm at Young Avenue Deli, the CYCA will host the Art for Art’s Sake Auction. It’s a great time to get out, see some friends, have a beer, and get some great local art for a low (unless someone is bidding against you!) price. Tickets are only $15 for CYCA members and $20 for non-members – saving $5 is a great reason to join our membership rolls. To purchase a ticket go online to cooperyoung.org.
April is also a great time to begin spring cleaning. It’s amazing how much stuff I’ve collected and carried from place to place in all my moves. What a great feeling it is donating those possessions to resale charities. In addition to the inside of our home, this is a wonderful time to clean out flowerbeds, trim back winter growth, and re-mulch. The CYCA will be on the lookout for yards to recognize as our Yard of the Month. Plant something pretty and you might be selected to display the Yard of the Month sign in your front lawn and be recognized in upcoming issues of the Lamplighter.
At the April General Meeting our members will be voting on amendments to our bylaws and electing both a Vice-President and a Secretary. Please come out and vote, or even better, come out and run for office. Nominations will be accepted from the floor.
As our motto says, “Life is good in Cooper-Young!”

John Kinsey

By Laura Johnson

It’s hard to drive down Evelyn Avenue in the daylight without noticing Karen Capps’ orange bungalow. The first thing that pops into your mind when you see the wine bottle statues, ceramic sculptures, and broken electronics scattered amongst the neatly organized chaos that is her landscaping is that an artist lives in that house.  When you enter her house, it’s even more evident that this collage artist has been acquiring materials from under bridges and bar stools for a long time.
Capps is one of many artists that will be participating in CYCA’s Art for Art’s Sake Auction, as well as the artist featured on this year’s Art Auction Poster. The money raised by the auction is kept in the community to maintain the Trestle Art over Cooper Street. Artists generously donate works to be auctioned, with 100% of the profits going towards our neighborhood’s most distinguishing piece of artwork. Capps says that it is a great way for artists to meet each other and one of the best ways she feels that she can give back to the community.
Karen Capps was in the corporate environment for ten years before realizing her true calling: taking junk and making it beautiful. Capps takes your average trash material (bottle caps, broken glass, cigarette lighters, computer parts…you get the idea) and uses heavy duty glue to mount these odd shaped pieces onto wooden canvasses. She starts her pieces by painting the background so that she can get a better idea of where to place the 3-dimensional pieces. Her work has a distinctive sense of Memphis pride; from the bar-b-que pigs adorned with their signature fork, to the catfish with nails as its barbels. There is a definite juxtaposition of new and old in her work.
Some of her past commissions have been of houses in the Cooper-Young area. One such commission gave her a broken plate from their parent’s wedding to use in the piece. Capps broke the plate further and used it as the border to the house. The customer was very touched to have the otherwise unusable relic put to great use, saying that, “its fun to include your own junk, there’s something more satisfying about it.”
Not only is Capps creating beautiful works of art, but she is cleaning up much of the broken glass and bottle caps in the surrounding area, and she is graciously willing to accept donations from your junk drawers.

By Emily Bishop

The Art for Art’s Sake Auction welcomes a new voice to stage on Saturday, April 9 at the Young Avenue Deli. Ric Chetter, a local radio veteran, will be the auctioneer for this CYCA event.  Ric has been on the air for the past 14 years. He is the former partner of Bad Dog as co-host of the Bad Dog and Ric Show on WEGR-FM. Ric and his wife Josephine have been CY residents since 2005 and are often seen in the neighborhood walking their two Greyhounds. The CYCA is grateful to Ric for giving of his time and energies to this community event.

I don’t know about you, but I have never been so excited to see the pages of the calendar turn to March. Although this time of the year means windy days, I’m more than happy to have wind versus snow and ice. After a winter like this maybe we should pick up the neighborhood and move Cooper-Young to Florida! We could set up next to the prim and proper seaside and cause quite a raucous I’m sure!
In addition to wind, March brings a focus on pet safety to Cooper-Young. Sure we all know about heartworm pills and leashes, but what else do we need to know? The March General Meeting will focus on common and not so common ways to take care of pets during everyday events and emergencies. Additionally, special pet events will occur throughout the month. To learn more you can read the article on page 1 and come to the General Meeting on March 8 at the CYCA offices at 2298 Young. Social time begins at 6pm, with the presentation running from 6:30-7:30pm. Many thanks go out to the Safety Committee for pulling this month’s pet safety events together.
Back in February a team of Cooper-Young residents concluded their two day Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. I highly recommend this course to everyone. I came away with many new ideas such as having a fire extinguisher on every floor of my house as well as moving the current extinguisher to a more accessible location. See page 3 for more information on CERT training and how you can better prepare yourself for emergency situations.
A look ahead on the calendar shows that our annual Art for Art’s Sake Auction is right around the corner in April. Read the article on page 5 or check out our website, cooperyoung.org, for more information on how to volunteer, how to contribute, and how to buy tickets.

Peach in Cooper-Young,

John Kinsey

By Emily Bishop

The Art for Art’s Sake Auction is gearing up again to be the hippest spring event in Midtown. The Young Avenue Deli will be packed on April 9 from 6-9:30pm with treasures created by local artists and contributions from area businesses. Great items donated from Festival vendors guarantee that there will be something available for everyone.
This event was started to help pay for the maintenance, insurance, utilities, and repairs of the Trestle Art over Cooper Street. This distinctive piece of artwork, owned by the Cooper-Young Community Association, has become the symbol of rebirth for this vibrant Midtown community over the years.

Tickets
Auction entrance is $20 for non CYCA members or $15 for members. The best way to purchase your ticket is online at cooperyoung.org. If you prefer a traditional paper ticket, you can come to the March 8 General Meeting at the CYCA office (2298 Young) and purchase your ticket between 6-6:30pm before the meeting starts. You may also email info@cooperyoung.org or call 901-272-2922 to arrange the purchase of your ticket.

Artist’s Donations
Introduce your art to a wide range of customers by donating to the Auction. Artists receive a ticket to the event, and if your work is valued at $200 and up, you will also receive a CYCA membership with benefits valued at over $100. If your art is selected for the live auction, it will be displayed at Otherlands Coffee Bar prior to the Auction for viewing and for the Artist’s Reception. For more information email Emily at cybishop@comcast.net or call 901-210-6905.

General Donations
Show your support for the CYCA by donating items, services, or gift cards from your business. Contact info@cooperyoug.org for more info or call 901-272-2922.

Artist’s Reception
The art featured in the live auction will be
displayed at Otherlands Coffee Bar
March 13 – April 9, with a reception on Sunday, March 20, from 3-5pm. Reception refreshments will be provided by Fork It Over Catering.

Volunteer
Volunteering at the Auction is a lot of fun, so spots fill up fast. Contact Kevin Ritz at volunteer@cooperyoung.org to find out what jobs are available before and during the event.

By Emily Bishop

With $11,505 in income and $800 in expenses, this year’s auction cleared a profit of $10,705 for the CYCA. The highlight of the evening was during the live auction when a bidding war broke out over the painting by Mollie Jaye Riggs, which was featured on this year’s poster. Terry Lawrence and Becca Dickerson were unaware that they were bidding against each other at first, but once Becca realized it was Terry, she challenged how high Terry was willing to bid for the artwork. When she asked if Terry was willing to go up to $1,000, he replied that he wanted to, but his limit was $800. With true civic spirit and generosity, Becca said if Terry would bid $800 for the painting, then she would donate $200 to the CYCA. The painting “Life is good in Cooper-Young” now has a home with Terry and Cynthia Lawrence. Becca Dickerson and Terry Lawrence have the admiration and gratitude of all who witnessed their generousity at the event.

A long list of volunteers work on this event each year, and, for their help, we are truly grateful. Justin Willingham stepped in as our auctioneer for the live auction and did a fantastic job. Our thanks go out to Tiger Bryant, Phillip Stroud, and the entire staff of the Young Avenue Deli for hosting this annual event and providing the food and soft drinks. Thanks to D. Canale for donating the Bud Light and Southwestern Distributors for donating the Hook and Ladder beer. We also thank Camy’s Pizza for providing the delicious cheesecake for dessert and Bluff City Sports for donating the t-shirts for the volunteers. Thanks to all the festival vendors who donated the items for the auction and especially the artists who donated their artwork for the live auction.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

By Leslie Thompson

In 2003, I spent my Thanksgiving holiday in Memphis. This was not my first trip to the Bluff City. I had visited once as a child, but the only thing I can recall from that trip is a hazy memory of the “Jungle Room” at Graceland. On my second trip, I spent the majority of a summer as a sullen teenager on the University of Memphis campus, where I saw very little of the actual city. Even if I had been given the opportunity to explore all I wanted, I still would have preferred to sit by myself in a dorm room while listening to The Smiths on my Sony Discman. I had not yet learned how to appreciate this city and what it has to offer.

On this third trip, I came with my husband. He grew up in Memphis and was eager to show me around, so we drove down the massive tree-lined Parkways, and he showed me Overton Park. At sunset, we sat by the Mississippi, and we followed it with a dinner of Rendezvous ribs. I saw the city from the rooftop of the Peabody, and, afterward, I saw our faces lit from the neon signs on Beale. We drove through Victorian Village, and then he showed me the sprawling mansions of East Memphis.

Back in Midtown, he said we were going to Cooper-Young, a name that sounded so bizarre to me. At the time, I thought “Cooper Young” was a person, but I quickly figured it out when I found myself driving down Cooper Street. Before arriving at our intersection destination, I can remember looking up and seeing something so curious and appealing. “What is that?” I asked in wonder as I pointed up above at what I would later learn to call the Trestle. The image of the backlit miniature row of houses hanging high and proudly over Cooper was unforgettable. At the time, I had no idea who put it there or why, but it spoke to me. I saw it as the loveliest of welcome mats dangling from the sky.

At home, I would recall our trip to Memphis over and over in my head, where the sweet scent of barbecue, the grand images of Southern mansions, and the whirling current of the Mississippi would shuffle at random, all backed by a soundtrack of blues. But the image of the Trestle and the quaint, but vibrant, neighborhood that sat behind it proved to be the most poignant of my memories. I had never seen such a public display of art before. Perhaps larger cities that I had not yet visited would have something like this—New York, Chicago, San Francisco, these are the cities I imagined to be able to have and to afford such things. Little did I know then that I would call Cooper-Young my home just two years later.

Since moving here, I have learned a lot about our neighborhood and its Trestle. One would not know it by looking at it now, but Cooper-Young was a struggling neighborhood in the 60’s and 70’s, when families found little reason to stay here, fleeing to newer neighborhoods to the east. Even when people started moving back in the 80’s and 90’s, the place was still often regarded as an unsafe eyesore. Looking to revamp the neighborhood’s image, the Cooper-Young Community Association (CYCA) applied for a grant to revive the abandoned and graffiti-covered train trestle on Cooper, which serves as a gateway to the area. With help from the Urban Art Commission, a Memphis metalsmith, Jill Turman, was selected to create her idea of twelve metal replicas of buildings in the neighborhood. The art installation was dedicated in 2000, and the trestle immediately became an icon of the spirited people, celebrated architecture, and lively businesses of the Cooper-Young community.

Although the Trestle is owned by the CYCA, this art is public. The Trestle is for you and for me and for everyone else to enjoy. It is not just a part of Cooper-Young; it is a part of Memphis. Figuratively speaking, we all own it, but who pays for it?

Any piece of art left out to deal with the elements will need repairs from time to time, and unfortunately vandalism is still a recurring problem in 2010. The cost of the insurance for the Trestle alone is huge. And besides the Trestle, the CYCA provides for many other things in our community we often take for granted. Those pretty Yvonne Bobo ginkgo leaf bike racks were not free. The equipment used for neighborhood clean-ups comes with a monetary cost. The $50 that each of our block captains receive to give the annual National Night Out Parties does not fall from the sky. The gallons upon gallons of paint needed to cover the ceaseless graffiti in Cooper-Young come with a charge. And the pending crosswalk art will not create itself. Simply put, keeping our neighborhood this awesome is costly, so the annual Art for Art’s Sake Auction was started by the CYCA in 2003 to help out with the heavy burden of paying for such maintenance and care.

This year’s auction will be held on Saturday, April 10th at 6 pm. Young Avenue Deli will be magically transformed yet again into a bustling, enterprising auction house. $20 at the door, or $15 for CYCA members, will get you inside. For that generous donation, you will receive a fun and spirited evening with some of the coolest people in town, including all of the free beer and wine you can drink. You will find a fast-paced live auction hosted by local comedian and actor Dennis Phillippi, and he might even encourage you to get a little tipsy with the hopes of you being more gracious with the contents of your wallet. And even if you are not drinking, you will be more giving with your money because you will be encouraged to bid for the beautiful artwork donated by some of the best local artists Memphis has to offer. If the larger art pieces are too expensive for your budget, then check out the silent auction tables, where many have scored great pieces of jewelry, pottery, gift baskets, and who knows what else for as little as $5.

For the cost of one night on the town, you can have your night out and do it guilt-free by knowing your money is well spent on something worthy. All you have to do is head south on Cooper Street from Central Avenue to realize this charitable auction truly is for a good cause. Please help us keep Cooper-Young beautiful and inviting by attending this year’s Art for Art’s Sake Auction. Bring your friends, invite your coworkers, or buy someone special a ticket to the event as a gift. Even if you do not live in the neighborhood, remember that it is your Trestle, too

By Emily Bishop

Cooper-Young is what it is today because of the artists. If not for their strong wills and talents, we would not have such distinct representations of the neighborhood, such as the Trestle art and the ginkgo leaf bike racks that are seen around the heart of CY. In fact, the cornerstone of our neighborhood can be found with the dozens of artists that call CY home. In the beginning, they looked past the run-down facades and saw the strong bones of the houses. Today, they show their support by donating to the Art for Art’s Sake Auction.

The Cooper-Young Community Association is deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed time, money, and artistic talents to make this event a success each and every year.

Show support for this gorgeous neighborhood by coming to the Art for Art’s Sake Auction on April 10th at the Young Avenue Deli. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door ($20, or $15 for CYCA members), and good times and great food can be found inside!

Here, you can see a sampling of the local artists and their work that will be available during the live auction. Many more items are included in the silent auction. Visit cooperyoung.org for more information.

(Full gallery at the end of this post)

Artist: Mollie Jaye Riggs

Email: molliejayebirdriggs@gmail.com

Title: Life is good in Cooper-Young

Value: $900

Description: Acrylic and casien on wood

I enjoy riding my bicycle around the neighborhood. I can carry a party in my basket.

Why I love CY: If I didn’t live in Cooper-Young, I probably wouldn’t live in Memphis.

Artist: Bo Graham of Fourteenth Colony

Website: fourteenthcolonylighting.com

Hand forged chandelier made in Midtown Memphis

Value: $800

This piece is inspired by the architecture and design of the late 19th and early 20th century. It is made from hand-forged steel and brass with an oxidized patina and sealed for indoor use with a natural non-toxic wax.

Artist: Brandon Herbers

Email: Brandon.Herbers@yahoo.com

Google: Charles Blackburn Flickr photostream

Title: The Grapevine

Value: $400

A new medium created and added to the art world by Brandon Herbers and done by accentuating wood grain with blow torch and dremel.

Artist: Lisa Lumb

Email: lumbl@bellsouth.net

Title: Wax, Flax, and Java to the Max

Medium: Stained glass on found object

Value: $1250

I chose to depict three colorful and unique local businesses in CY: Goner Records, Java Cabana, and Loudean’s on Young Avenue. Some of these buildings have been around for almost a century now, though the businesses have changed over the years. I love to think that a century’s worth of shoppers have strolled down the avenue to windowshop and that CY is still going strong. When some of our restaurants closed recently, people were predicting the worst…but once again, CY has bounced back with a vengeance, with even more businesses coming in to take up the slack.

Artist: Paul Clarke

Website: servogroup.com

Title: Cooper-Young January 1st 2001

Description: Photograph taken early morning. Number 8 of 15 prints.

Value: $250

I have images in my head—the camera is my medicine—without it my head would explode.

Artist: Lizi Beard Ward

Website: lizi.bward@gmail.com

Title: Gazebo at Cooper & Young and Fall Trees in CY

Value: $250

Medium: Digitally enhanced photos

Artist: John Carter

Phone: 901-486-3540

Email: jcarterstudio@yahoo.com

Title: Turtle Lake at the Botanic Gardens

Description: Oil on canvas

Value: $250

This painting is based on a photograph given to me by a dear fellow painter, David Wertzberger, who passed away a few years ago from cancer.

Why I love CY: All throughout my college years and until 1980 I lived and worked in Midtown. I still work here and will always love the area.

Artist: Karen Bottle Capps

Website: karenbottlecapps.com

Title: Elvis’ Birthplace

Value: $575

In this portrait of Elvis’ birthplace in Tupelo, Mississippi, you can feel and touch where the King of Rock and Roll began his musical journey. Made from glass, vintage bottle caps, and costume jewelry and made complete with an historical marker. This is a must-have piece. Look! A tiny porch swing. The same one, except different, that little Elvis sat on. A cloudy day with the center of the sun is a pyramid, doves fly away peacefully as Elvis did at Graceland. I found those barrettes at Peabody School Playground across the street. The foundation stones on the house are made from pottery pieces I found on the banks of the Mississippi River. The river washes away Memphis’ early trash dumps with its rise and fall. This one is early 1920’s.

Artist: Carol Robison

Phone: 901-502-1649

Title: Hawk Over Young Ave. Deli

Medium: Paint on wood

Value: $600

Carol Robison walks by the Deli every day with her dogs. She notices stuff. Recently, she’s been seeing birds. Redtail Hawks flying back and forth among the trees that surround the Deli. No bird collisions here. These Hawks are watching “over” the Deli. Its not the beer your feeling, it’s the hawks intensifying your life force. These hawks spread joy and add fulfillment to your bohemian lifestyle.

We can look forward to more bird paintings from Carol as she watches a flock of Yellow Crowned Night Heron’s nesting in her trees. They come every spring, build a nest, more birds come, they do mating dances, whooping calls, and make new family members, then fly south again. Ahh. The South, we love it here.

Artist: Robby Johnston aka Slim

Website: robbyjohnston.com

Title: Winter Night

Medium: Acrylic with mixed media and found art on panel

Value: $200

I like Cooper-Young’s diversity of people and could live at Tsunami!

Artist: CY Community

Title: Peace in Cooper-Young

Value: $250

The entire community was invited by ARTjamN to paint and express their creativity. The result was a group collage of fun and color.

ARTjamN…it’s Paintertainment.

Canvas, paint, easels, and fun.

Website: ARTjamN.com

Artist: Cat Snyder

Email: catsarekoo@hotmail.com

Title: Remain Seated at all Times

Value: $200

I know a certain person who is a big fan of Cat’s work. Will she be at the auction? Yes. So you better be ready to bid up and often. The Libertyland debacle has caused many a fist fight, and friends have stopped talking to friends. The Zippin Pippin is going to be missed, but the good people in Green Bay will keep it rolling for future fun.

Cat Snyder has made some very awesome photos to remember her by. For all those who rode this ride, you know you want it. Beautiful colors and shaded tones. The Zippin Pippin comes alive in her photo.

Cat was born and raised in Memphis, TN.

Artist: Jeanne Seagle

Email: jeanneseagle@bellsouth.net

Title: Moonrise at Ute Mountain

Medium: Acrylic on canvas

Value: $1000

Ute Mountain is a sacred site for the Indians of Northern New Mexico. It rises up independently from a vast plain in an area of ancient volcanos and lava flows. I have seen it covered with violent storm clouds when the rest of the sky was sunny and blue. In this instance, vertical clouds rose up as if they were dancing. I was driving in this desolate landscape late at night, desperately hoping to find a motel room, when I saw this beautiful sight. It seemed to be a sign that all would be well.

Toad Hall Gift Basket

Value: $400

Includes:

Antique Dough Bowl,

Glass Vase,

Votive Candle,

Set of 4 Homer Laughlin Bowls,

Assortment of English Teas,

Gullah Gourmet Crab Cakes,

Lucky Frog,

Rice Measurer w/ Metal Handle,

Vintage Linen Runner,

Collectible Vintage Hotel Plante,

Mississippi Pottery,

English China,

Vintage Silver Serving Piece,

Handmade One-of-a-kind Cross.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]