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UPCOMING ART AUCTION BIDDING ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
By Keith Hagarty
Looking to purchase an eye-catching painting or photograph while benefiting the students of Howell Township?
If so, then you're in luck. Magnificent works of art in all media and price ranges will be up for bid on Thursday, March 13 as the Howell Township Education Foundation (HTEF) sponsors its second annual art auction.
The event will be held at Middle School North on Squankum-Yellowbrook Road with an artwork preview beginning at 5:30 p.m., with the auction getting underway at 6:45 p.m.
Last year's auction showcased over 150 works of art, raising over $7,000 for HTEF, a non-profit organization developed by Howell Township community members to provide the students of Howell with enriched learning opportunities and increased educational experiences.
Of the $7,000 raised, proceeds came from a combination of fundraising efforts at the event, from the sale of over 300 tickets, numerous donations and a percentage of the artwork sold at the auction. A total of 94 pieces were sold out of the 154 of artwork submitted to the auction, with an authenticated untitled painting by renowned Spanish Surrealist painter and sculptor Joan Miro going for $950.
This year's auction hopes to ride the wave of success of the inaugural gala, as HTEF Chairman Dr. Anthony Novembre procliamed last year's fundraiser a complete success.
With over 100 residents and art lovers flocking to the auction last year, Novembre said the HTEF couldn't have asked for a better way to get the word out about all the good they do for the kids of Howell, thanking everyone involved for their ongoing support.
"I ran into people after the art auction who said, 'I didn't even know that there was a Howell Township Education Foundation,'" he said. "We did a couple things: number one was to raise everybody's awareness that there is a foundation, and number two, this was our first attempt in raising money, so I think we did extremely well."
After watching her daughter's artwork included in last year's auction, Jessica Marconie, of the Ramtown section of Howell, is eager to see what this year's event has in store.
"It was really something else last year, very impressive," said Marconie. "It just seems like something that is unique, something a little different than what we're used to seeing as far as fundraisers go."
While Marconie professes adoration for classic Impressionist painters such as Claude Monet and Mary Cassett, she said she always likes to keep an open mind.
"I tend to like whatever catches my eye," she explained. "I guess it depends what kind of mood I'm in. On good days, sure, I want lots and lots of color, something to remind me of all the good, fun things in life, but then if I'm having a particularly down day, I don't know, I might want to look at a sentimental photograph or maybe something that just seems tranquil or soothing."
For a preview of some of the works of art available at the auction, organizers encourage patrons to visit the New Yorkbased Marlin Art online at www.marlinart. com, where any purchase made on the Web site will also benefit the HTEF by entering the code 63352 upon checkout.
Admission for the auction is $10 per person, and can be purchased at the main office of any of the township's public schools, or by calling 732-252-2457.
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