In Westfield, 18 Butterfly Artworks Up For Auction Until Thursday

Westfield NJ

03 December, 2020

4:12 PM

Description

WESTFIELD, NJ — The Westfield Public Arts Commission will auction off 18 butterflies this Friday that were created by local artists as part of its first public art exhibit, Art Takes Flight. This piece is "Hearts In Flight" By Jennifer Wilner. The butterflies will be available for public auction beginning at noon on Friday, with a minimum opening bid of $500. The auction will conclude on Dec. 10 at 10 p.m. The 14 butterflies are among 30 — one for each decade of Westfield's 300 years — that were part of the "Art Takes Flight" installation around downtown Westfield this year. The installation showcased the talent and vision of local artists on fiberglass. From August through October, the butterflies were set on pedestals or affixed to trees or poles in a variety of locations, with themes ranging from nature, to pop art, to Westfield pride. All of the funds associated with purchasing the butterflies were raised through private donations, without any cost to the town. With the auction, all of the funds raised will be used to support future public art projects in Westfield. The remaining butterflies from the exhibit are being purchased by their respective sponsors or kept by the town for permanent public display. Bidders may visit this link (Westfield Butterfly Auction). They can view the available butterflies and set up an account, which is required for placing a bid. Winners will be contacted by members of the Westfield Public Art Commission to arrange pickup beginning on Dec. 11. The Public Arts Commission "The Public Arts Commission heard from many residents about the joy the butterflies brought tothe community during a difficult time," said Councilwoman Dawn Mackey, liaison to the Westfield Public Arts Commission. "We were thrilled that this exhibit provided a safe experience to enjoy art during the pandemic, and we look forward to offering these butterflies to those in the community who wish to purchase them for years of future enjoyment." The Westfield Public Arts Commission was established by ordinance in September 2019 at the direction of Mayor Brindle, and is comprised of resident volunteers, as well as Town Council liaison Dawn Mackey and Downtown Westfield Corporation liaison and Executive Director Bob Zuckerman. Its purpose is to provide a coordinated and comprehensive approach to utilizing artin the town's public space. In late 2019, local artist and gallery owner Ricardo Roig was commissioned to design and paint the first phase of a mural under the South Avenue overpass as part of the town's overall revitalization efforts of that business corridor, with the second phase also recently completed. The mural was fully funded by donations from residents, the Presbyterian Church in Westfield, James Ward, The Westfield Foundation, and an anonymous donor — in addition to grants through the Main Street NJ and Union County HEART programs. For more information, visit www.westfieldnj.gov/publicartscommission. Got news? Email [email protected]. To be the first to get news alerts with breaking stories in your town, or to get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters.