It’s a party, Picasso style
Quickly approaching its two-decade milestone, Party with Picassos showcases local artists and art fans in a quest to support the work of the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council.
This 19th annual Women for the Arts fundraiser regularly serves as the nonprofit organization’s largest fundraiser, pairing local artists with local celebrities to create art of all sorts to be auctioned. This year, more than 40 such pairings will create artwork with Texarkana native Tyler Arnold as this year’s signature artist.
This year’s Party with Picassos will be held Saturday, March 24, at the Texarkana Convention Center with a check-in, cocktails and art viewing at 6:30 p.m. and heavy hors d’oeuvres, the live auction and other festivities at 7 p.m.
Arnold says he’s honored to work with WFA for this year’s Picassos and, in this instance, be able to do his own work for the charity. He’s also donated his time as an artist working with local celebrities.
Arnold’s signature piece, a large acrylic and mixed-media painting titled “The Daily Double,” depicts race horses doing what they’re bred to do: run. They’re captured mid-race with all the intensity of this competition, some rendered in color with others in black and white.
This is the event’s second year at the Texarkana Convention Center, and Party with Picassos organizers Robin Proctor and Judy Jones of WFA say they learned a lot hosting it at a new venue last year. “That 600 people is a lot,” Jones said. “The number of people increased considerably last year.”
New features for this year’s Party with Picassos include pre-purchasing wine and beer to be delivered to the table Saturday night, pre-purchasing drink tickets, delivering art to people’s homes, advertising a special room rate for Hilton Garden Inn the night of the auction and
accepting sealed bids for the signature piece in advance. It will be displayed at the Regional Arts Center until March 22.
“We have made improvements for our guests that they will be accommodated with what they want and need a whole lot easier,” Proctor said. Jones said they already have more people signed up to attend this year than last year. They want to make sure their guests have fun. “We want their experience, the whole evening, to just be fun,” Proctor said.
Jones said Arnold has been generous with his time and easy to work with for the auction. His signature piece is a large one, so it took time to make. “Tyler does art now for his living. That is his job, and he’s very busy,” Jones said. But they say it’s important to him to give back to Texarkana.
For the silent auction, there’s an array of interesting items on tap, including trips. “We’ve got some great art. One of the coolest things is that our artists who work so hard with celebrities also take the time to give us art for that,” Proctor said. Also, other local artists and businesses add to the outouring of generosity.
“Verona’s is doing an amazing thing for the silent auction. They’re doing a dinner for 10 and a wine tasting,” she said. Raffle prizes include jewelry and a choice of vacation packages (Panama City, Fla., or Gulf Shores, Ala.) Tickets are $25 or five for $100.
For Arnold, who visits Oaklawn Park annually, visited the track with his late father and remembers riding horses in his younger days, the subject fits him well. For one thing, there’s a lot of movement in horses, an element he strives to capture.
“I really enjoy it,” Arnold said. “There’s a lot of colors in horses in general.”
When he gets the chance, he enjoys giving to charity events like this, and TRAHC’s work supporting the arts in the Texarkana area is necessary, he believes.
“I love everything TRAHC does. They really do a great job of just keeping awareness with the arts,” Arnold said, noting in all he probably devoted 60 hours to creating the signature work.
“I built the frame myself and stretched it,” he said, adding that there are some textures in the work but it’s mainly acrylic. He’s ready to enjoy the Picassos festivities.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s always a good party,” Arnold said.
An art preview event, titled Party with Tito’s, will be held on Thursday that week for the Saturday live auction ticket holders. It includes an open vodka bar. High Tea with Picassos will be held Tuesday, March 20. “The food is spectacular, I heard,” Proctor said.
(Individual tickets start at $150. For tickets and more information, contact Robin Proctor at 903-278-3383. RSVP by March 16 to get tickets. For High Tea with Picassos tickets, which are $40, contact Rhonda Allen at 903-276-3559 or Sue Beck at sueellen819@yahoo.com.)