OVERVIEW

• Auction Preview Exhibition: View auction items in the Museum’s gallery from October 12th – November 5th, 2021
• Online Bidding: October 12th – November 6th, 2021 – Browse the Auction lots, register and bid. Final Auction bidding begins Saturday, November 6th at 12pm, EST
• Celebrate the Auction’s 30th anniversary at our 2021 Auction Salons: October 29th & November 5th

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The Attleboro Arts Museum’s annual Benefit Art Auction is one of the Museum’s largest fundraising events of the year.  All proceeds from the Auction support the Museum’s community arts programs, exhibitions, operations, and Museum School art classes for all ages.  2021 marks the event’s 30th consecutive year, and although changes have been put in place to address health and safety concerns, the mission and strong appeal of the Auction remains firmly in place. 

• 228 donations of original art as well as specialty items are on the virtual auction block with bids starting at approximately 40% of the value of each item. Some lots start for less.
• These pieces were generously donated to the Museum by artists, collectors, area businesses and foundations. 
• There is no buyer’s premium or tax collected on Auction purchases.
• All donated pieces are part of an in-gallery Preview Exhibition offering potential bidders a chance to see and familiarize themselves with each item. The Preview Exhibition is on view in the Museum’s Ottmar Gallery from Tuesday, October 12th through November 5th.
• At the same time, the Auction can be viewed online through the Museum’s Benefit Art Auction platform – Bidsquare.  All those interested in bidding will first need to register and then can bid on all 228 lots.
• No room to hang anything at home? Remember, original art makes a unique holiday gift. 

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Auction Salons: Friday, October 29th & November 5th

This year the Auction’s customary, ticketed, in-gallery event (last held in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) converts to two ticketed Auction Salons designed to ring in the Auction’s 30th anniversary.

• Guests at each event will be introduced to all auction lots, enjoy live acoustic music from Betsy Listenfelt, meet artists creating work in a variety of mediums in the Museum’s gallery and have a chance to win one of thirty prizes to celebrate the fundraiser’s thirtieth year.
• Those interested in placing bids can be guided through the online process by Museum staff members.
• SWEET TREAT! Each guest will leave the Salon with an artisan cupcake created by the talented bakers at Russ Morin Catering and Events.
• The Salons have capacity limits to allow guests to comfortably navigate the Museum. The events will not include a live Auction, but will be a time to safely come together, celebrate the arts, and support the Museum and its mission. Masks are required to enter and are to be worn throughout evening.

Two Auction Salons to choose from: Friday, October 29th, 7-9pm or Friday, November 5th, 7-9pm

Tickets to either event: $20 each for Museum members; $25 each for non-members. Purchase tickets:

• Online
• By visiting the Attleboro Arts Museum at 86 Park Street, Attleboro, MA, Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm
• By phone at 508-222-2644 x10, Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm

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Extraordinary Auction Raffles

Proceeds from the sale of the Auction’s Extraordinary Raffles (and we do mean extraordinary) benefit Arts for Everyone!

Ticket Prices:

• One: $ 3
• Three: $ 8
• Five: $12
• Ten: $20

You can purchase tickets:

• Online
• By phone (508-222-2644 x10)
• Visit the Museum’s gallery to see all raffle offerings and purchase tickets in person (Tuesday, October 12th – Saturday, November 5th from 10am – 5pm).
• Auction Salon guests can also purchase raffle tickets during the Salons on either October 29th or November 5th from 7pm – 9pm.

• Raffles winners will be contacted after 5pm on Saturday, November 6th, 2021. 
• Winners (or an authorized representative) must pick up their raffle item(s) at the Museum from November 9th through the 13th, 2021 between 10am-5pm, the Museum is closed Sundays & Mondays. 86 Park Street, Attleboro, MA 02703. Telephone: 508-222-2644

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THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS 2021 AUCTION SPONSORS

Headline Sponsors: Bluestone Bank Charitable Foundation • Castro, Thresher & Oliveira, PC • City Spirits • Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation • Russell Morin Catering & Events • The Sun Chronicle.  Partner Sponsors: Bristol County Savings Bank • Collins, Smith & O’Connor, LLP • Sensata Technologies Foundation •  Friend Sponsors: Bliss Bros. Dairy • Providence Picture Frame • Willow Tree Farm.

Public art enlivens and enhances cities and can turn public spaces into destinations.  Weaving visual art into an urban environment by offering public art encounters brings people together, creates pride-of-place and invites engagement. 

A collaboration between the City of Attleboro, Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) Partnership, Keep Attleboro Beautiful, Attleboro Arts Museum, local artists and a downtown property owner has been activated to transform the surface of Attleboro’s sidewalk utility boxes into gallery-worthy works of art.   

Original drawings, paintings and digital creations from a team of artists that live and/or work in Attleboro encase six of the city’s utility boxes in the heart of the downtown. All of the artists, Tim Elliott, David R. Laferriere, Lindsay Nygaard, Abby Rovaldi, Kerry St. Pierre and Jess Tracey, have volunteered their time and talent to support the program.  

Each box is marked with a QR code. When viewers scan the code with a smartphone camera they’ll find a statement about the artwork pictured on a given box, background on each artist and an online survey to capture their feedback on the program.

This debut edition of Think Outside the Box serves as a pilot program.  It’s funded by the City of Attleboro, Keep Attleboro Beautiful and a private donation. Organizers hope to expand the program throughout the city and turn other basic, functional structures into contemporary, eye-catching street markers.

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK! Let us know your thoughts on Think Outside the Box. Complete this brief survey: https://forms.gle/934UHpvyUtnCEvU4A

Sponsorship opportunites for additional boxes are available.  Email office@attleboroartsmuseum.org to learn more. 

Think Outside the Box is produced by (in alpha order): Attleboro Arts Museum, City of Attleboro Department of Public Works, City of Attleboro Veteran’s Department, Cool Air Creations, Inc., Rick Correia, Laurie Drucker, George Durante, Catherine Feerick, Mim Brooks Fawcett, Mayor Paul Heroux, Brian Hodess, Kathy Ilkowitz, Keep Attleboro Beautiful, Transformative Development Initiative Partnership – Attleboro, MA.

From the Whimsical World of Artist Jess Tracey

Thomas H. Cuddy, Jr. Courtyard – Between Bank, Academy and North Main Streets, Attleboro, MA

Take a few steps off downtown Attleboro’s North Main Street and you’ll soon be face-to-face with a super-sized anglerfish. Move past that unusual discovery and you’ll come across playful whales floating by a window seat on the Sanford Street garage.  

Welcome to the unexpected and delightful “Thomas H. Cuddy, Jr. Courtyard,” featuring mesmerizing creatures painted by artist and Attleboro native, Jess Tracey.  Thanks to funding provided by the Transformative Development Initiative from MassDevelopment, a partnership with the Attleboro Arts Museum, cooperation from adjacent building owners and businesses, and extensive effort from the City of Attleboro, Tracey is putting brush to brick, creating a whimsical world that is designed to distinguish Attleboro’s newly cultivated public space. 

Get out your smartphones. Public art is tailor-made for more than one selfie.  It helps individuals to connect to urban environments and creates pride-of-place. Coordinators of this project are eager to spread the word about Attleboro’s public spaces and the unique features that are being designed to enhance all visits to the downtown region.

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The Sun Chronicle features the artwork of Jess Tracey in Cuddy Court:
https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/attleboro-alley-has-a-new-look-thanks-to-local-artist/article_51083984-dd33-5e00-be2b-cfdce9810a1c.html

When the Attleboro Arts Museum opened its doors in 1923 several area residents supported the organization by gifting fine art, memorabilia and items of aesthetic and historical interest.  These donations came to form the majority of the museum’s permanent collection. 

Today, thanks to funding from a Commonwealth Places COVID-19 Response Round: Resurgent Places grant from MassDevelopment, selections from the permanent collection are on view in a unique exhibition entitled Signs of the Times. This meandering display of art features replicas of permanent collection works imprinted on banners that are attached to downtown Attleboro’s light poles.  Signs of the Times is a coronavirus-safe way for participants to experience art and gain exposure to Attleboro’s downtown restaurants, businesses and attractions.  

You can learn about the work on view by participating in a complimentary self-guided tour. Let’s get started!

SELF-GUIDED TOUR FORMATS:

USING YOUR SMARTPHONE, CLICK ON ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TOUR FORMATS:

1. “At A Glance” – This is the most popular tour format for viewing on your mobile phone. Includes family-friendly worksheets, art making videos, and select videos from special guests.

Access the “At A Glance” Tour Now.

2. Download a pdf (includes family-friendly worksheets, art making videos, and select videos from special guests)

3. Audio (52:51) Hear the tour!

TO VIEW THE TOUR BEGIN AT:

Banner #1

Located at 77 Park Street, Attleboro, MA 02703  – in front of Attleboro’s City Hall.

(Street parking is available near Banner #1 and throughout the tour)

• The Signs of the Times tour has 22 banners stops
• The full tour averages 1-1.5 hours
• Participants can take the complete tour or break it down into parts over several days

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View a self-guided tour map:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=16owsnAv40NOZfn-7OdCkpwYtEem6mGWv&ll=41.94427460253364%2C-71.28241525&z=17

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Kindly complete the quick 4-question survey when you have finished your tour.  Thank you.  https://forms.gle/jFyKhHegUWc7xdyq6

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KEEP IN MIND …

There will be a series of several self-guided tours that will be added during 2021. Keep checking back for new additions!

To ensure the health and safety of Museum visitors, art students of all ages, and staff members, all guests are being asked to adhere to the following guidelines:

• Masks are required for entry and will be provided if needed

• Please maintain a respectful distance between yourself and other visitors. Thank you.

Feel free to contact the Museum with any questions: 508-222-2644 x10.

Looking forward to seeing you,

Mim Brooks Fawcett

Executive Director and Chief Curator

We’ve been taping a series of free art demos featuring projects that are great to make at home using readily available household items.  These are easy and colorful projects to work on with kids – and adults will also enjoy the art-making experience.

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We encourage you to share these demos with your friends!

Thanks for watching. Consider making a donation of any size to support the Attleboro Arts Museum today.