This year's Party with Picassos looks to be bigger and better as it raises thousands of dollars for the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council.
That's the word from Robin Proctor, one of the Women for the Arts organizers of Party with Picassos, about this year's rendition, which auctions art created by local artist and celebrity pairings on Saturday, April 8, at the Texarkana Convention Center.
It all starts with a 6 p.m. pre-party and viewing and then, at 7 p.m., the main festivities begin with heavy hors d'oeuvres, both live and silent auctions and dancing to the music of 2Pianos. This year's signature artist is Kathi Couch.
About three dozen local artists teamed with well-known local personalities to make art to be auctioned during the night. A High Tea with Picassos, celebrating its tenth year, will happen from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the home of Jennifer and Darby Doan on Tuesday, April 4. It offers an early look at the art.
The Texas-side convention center is a new venue. They've outgrown Northridge County Club, said Proctor. "We always try to come up with something new and exciting and different," Proctor said about how she and fellow organizer Judy Jones approach Picassos.
This year they'll display the art differently-hung on stage with three large screens to show it to the crowd. They'll also hold a Thursday, April 6, Party with Tito's Reception for ticketholders. It will have a vodka and Western attire theme with beverage underwriting by Austin-based handmade vodka maker, Tito's Vodka.
"That's fun. Nobody's ever done anything like that," Proctor said.
Another new Picassos aspect is a children's art calendar for sale. "We wanted our patrons, who have supported us just every year and our new ones, we wanted them to see what Party with Picassos does in supporting TRAHC and how it affects local children," Proctor said.
So Women for the Arts and its president Lynn Whitt, said Proctor, worked with Amy Donohoe, TRAHC's director of visual arts and community programs, to contact local schools. Students turned in pictures about nature to be considered, a total of 170 submissions. Fourteen winners were chosen.
"We picked a cover winner and then 13 months," Proctor said. And from that, a calendar was created. Children's art will be displayed at this year's Picassos. Calendars will also be sold at the Regional Arts Center's gift shop.
"One thing that's super exciting is our raffle tickets this year is the prizes on there total a value at about $13,500," Proctor said. Prizes include jewelry, a Nancy Gonzalez handbag and a Gulf Shores vacation. Tickets are $25, five for $100.
Couch's signature art will be auctioned at the Saturday night festivities. Her acrylic painting depicts a face, something more representational for her. It was inspired by a trip to New Orleans, where she visited an art gallery filled with great big faces.
"To be quite honest, everybody's doing abstracts now," Couch said. Because she doesn't feel as unique, she wanted to venture forth and do something different for her. "I wanted to do something I thought would make a cool poster for somebody's house or their room or office or something," she said.
The face is sort of a composite of different ones she observed as she painted. In addition to her own painting, she had two celebrity artists to work with, indicative of the kind of time local artists spend on Party with Picassos.
"I just love watching them, and I enjoy them having fun. And saying, 'Can I come over and just do this sometime while my kids are in school,'" Couch said. As someone who raised two children here, she knows how important TRAHC's work is to the community.
Women for the Arts' Party with Picassos is the top fundraiser for TRAHC, Proctor said. Last year they presented a Picassos donation of a $100,000 check.
"I really think we'll write more this year," she said. With budget and funding cuts, they need this money, she said. It goes to programs like Arts on Main and art programs in the school, shows for children and many other things.
"It does a tremendous amount of good in the community," Proctor said.
(Tickets are available for both Party with Picassos and High Tea with Picassos. Individual Party for Picassos tickets start at $125. For more information and tickets, call Robin Proctor at 903-278-3383. For High Tea with Picassos tickets, which are $40, contact Rhonda Allen at 903-276-3559 or Sue Beck at [email protected]. Seating is limited. More info: TRAHC.org or 903-792-8681.)