By Lora Oehlberg
Town Crier Editorial Intern
Just like salt and pepper, Batman and Robin, and bread and butter, there’s a commonly accepted marriage of art and wine. Perhaps it has something to do with wine being conducive to contemplation and intellectual discourse, or maybe art evokes a yearning for wine.
In any case, the addition of art to the silent auction at the Palo Alto Red Cross’ MacArthur Park Wine Festival, scheduled 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Aug. 18, seems only natural.
The auction, normally dominated by specialty wines donated by participating wineries, this year includes work by eight local artists.
The artwork includes prints, watercolors and mixed media work.
“We were looking for California feel. We have watercolor landscapes, cows, dogs, prints, collage prints, some light, others are bold and colorful. It’s decor for people’s homes, could go in any room,” said Barbara Mortkowitz, a Red Cross volunteer who has helped organize the art section of the festival.
The Red Cross approached various Bay Area artists for donations suitable for the event. Several artists accepted, including Dianne Erikson, who donated “Monday Morning Meadow Walk.”
“I can’t think of a better way to contribute to a worthy cause and to have other contributors be rewarded with a piece of art for their home,” Erikson said.
Erikson displays her work at the Gallery House in Palo Alto and teaches art at the Pacific Art League and Palo Alto Art Center.
Successful sales of local art in the silent auction would ensure its continued inclusion in years to come.
“Hopefully these artists will invite others in the future so that this auction is both a forum for the artists as well as a community source for quality local art,” said Mortkowitz.
The silent auction will begin when the festival opens and end at 2 p.m.
Until the auction, the artwork for the wine festival is on display at MacArthur Park Restaurant, 27 University Ave., Palo Alto.
Proceeds from the MacArthur Park Wine Festival benefit the Palo Alto Area Red Cross, which provides emergency services to Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Stanford and Moffett Field.
Admission, restricted to those over 21, is $50 in advance or $60 at the door and includes complimentary wine and food throughout the day. To order tickets, call 688-0438 or visit www.paarc.org.
