Center’s auction to go on virtually

As soon as the construction workers wrapped up, Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas staff members moved into The ARTSpace on Main, 623 S. Main St., on Thursday morning.

Their goal was to hang about 40 pieces of art on freshly painted or restored original brick walls in the 11,000-square-foot facility before the start of the center’s virtual art auction, ARTWORKS.

“Although there is nothing more exciting than a live, in-person art auction, ASC cannot wait to launch the virtual ARTWORKS art auction, a companion event of the Heart for the Arts telethon,” said Rachel Miller, the center’s executive director.

The virtual auction also will give the center’s staff members the opportunity to show off a little of their new facility.

The public can view the artwork in person while taking a sneak peek at the center’s new community gallery on the ground floor of The ARTSpace, said Shannon Frazeur, the center’s development assistant.

Because of the covid-19 pandemic, the Heart for the Arts telethon and ARTWORKS are being held in lieu of ASC’s annual gala

fundraiser and auction.

“Unfortunately, due to social distancing guidelines, ASC is unable to host a traditional gala this year,” Frazeur said.

The online auction continues until Nov. 22 at 11:55 p.m. The auction was also shown during the telethon featuring local talents Friday and Saturday from 6:308:30 p.m.

“Reservations to see the art in The ARTSpace are encouraged, to help with social distancing, but not required,” Frazeur said.

There is a limit of 10 visitors in The ARTSpace at any one time, and masks are required, she said.

Visitors can call the center’s main line at (870) 5363375 to reserve a date and time. These include Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Nov. 21 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

INSIDE THE ARTSPACE

Even Miller climbed a ladder Thursday, saying later, “I was there all day long.

The space looks fantastic.”

Only a few days before, the walls were bare.

“The art accentuates the historic interior feature, really adds to the openness of the space and it is amazing,” Miller said. “I cannot wait until we can invite people in for public programs.”

Although it’s not an official opening, anyone interested in bidding on ARTWORKS’ art will have a chance to see the pieces in person as well as the first floor of center’s new campus addition.

The ARTSpace was made possible by a $2.2 million Windgate Foundation grant, and the center purchased the two-story, circa-1920s commercial building in the 1990s as a support space for the center’s performing arts program.

It will serve as a multipurpose community arts and events space, and feature a community gallery for area artists to show and sell work.

The flex-space can be used to host large and small classes from art and dance to culinary and more.

Also, there is a tinkering makerspace, a wood shop, scene and costume shop, a small pottery studio and an outside “ART Yard” for large-scale projects and events.

Construction is nearing completion on the facility and should be completed by mid-December, Frazeur said.