Ready, Set … Art! Scholarship fundraiser a big success

By Joella Clove

Grace Ridge Brewery was bursting at the seams with creativity last Saturday, April 25, as local artists joined together to support the fourth annual fundraiser for the Ptarmigan Arts Scholarship. A total of $5,500 was raised for the scholarship. This amount included both art sold at the live auction and additional donations by attendees, a 5% percent increase from the funds raised last year.

Ptarmigan Arts has been awarding this visual arts scholarship to one high school student annually for about 25 years. The $3,000 scholarship will be awarded to the 2026 winner at the Homer High School Awards ceremony in May.

The fundraising event featured 18 local artists who created a finished artwork for auction in just one hour. The joy of the collective fundraising effort was palpable and excitement ran high after the bell rang to signal artists that it was time to start creating. Guests wandered slowly about watching the various art pieces progress as artists began sculpting clay, metal smithing, applying brush strokes to raw canvases, felting and tying macrame knots.

A large crowd gathered around potter David Kaufman to watch as his skilled hands sculpted the clay rotating on the potter’s wheel in front of him.

“It felt good to be working in a kind of mock competition while knowing that we all win when we can support a young artist with a scholarship,” Kaufman said. “I enjoyed the opportunity to share the making process with some people who are familiar with my work in its finished form.”

When asked about the race against the clock, Kaufman said, “I had done a timed trial for myself ahead of time, so the one-hour limit wasn’t too stressful. It is an excellent exercise for a potter to pair down the motions to include only the truly essential.”

Another crowd watched in wonder as painter Turea Grice brought to life a curious otter before their eyes. Its open mouth, wild expression of glee and lively eyes captivated onlookers. “My first time creating live!” said Turea said. “Grace Ridge Brewery was so accommodating — they deserve a big thumbs up.”

The artists extended from indoors out into the patio and open air. Copper jeweler Cindy Nelson was hard at work torching her metal pieces in the patio. The metal gleamed and bent before the freshly designed bracelets were laid out to cool. Nearby, painter David Pettibone translated a still life vase of flowers into a lush reflection on canvas.

Meanwhile back indoors, colored pigment layers were building on canvases of all shapes and sizes. It was absolutely amazing to view paintings, jewelry, pottery, felting, broom-making and more happening and evolving in real time.

As the end of the hour approached, each artist’s vision came into focus, including whimsical colorful creatures felted in wool, a painting of an owl perched on a branch, a burgundy macrame dress top and a glowing moon painted against a backdrop of galaxies. Another ringing of the bell signaled the closing of the live artist hour. As the artists put down their paint brushes and tools, excitement spread again as the live auction commenced. Items were brought up one by one to the auctioneer and sold off to the crowd, waiting and eager to take home one of the newly crafted masterpieces.

“I love that patrons of the arts get to see how artists create their work. People don’t often get to see behind the scenes,” Sarah Sims said. “I do graffito work on my wheel thrown pieces. Customers are always so curious what my process is. I was a bit nervous. The design I had chosen was a bit too ambitious, knowing folks wandering about would be asking lots of questions during the allotted hour, but I finished just in the nick of time. I thought this year was a great array of artists, and thanks to a supportive community the fundraising auction afterwards was a huge success.”

“Ptarmigan would like to thank the 18 participating live artists, Sherry and Don Stead —owners of Grace Ridge Brewery — and the volunteers who made it all happen,” said organizer Gary Lyon. “Special thanks to The Homer Foundation as partners for the scholarship fund. Our intent is to grow this fund so that it becomes self sustaining and continues to encourage young visual artists in perpetuity.”

If you were unable to attend the event but want to make a donation, contact The Homer Foundation at