Friends of the Tay Watershed Association

P.O. Box 2065 57 Foster Street Perth, ON K7H 3M9 E-mail: info@tayriver.org Web: www.tayriver.org

Celebrity Auction

This year's “Tay Watershed Discovery Evening”, to be held on Thursday October 18, 2007, will feature a celebrity auction, with Brent McLaren, the Perth Town Crier, as auctioneer. The Friends of the Tay Watershed are fortunate to have the following items for auction from five generous donors (shown in the order in which they were donated):

1. Original Landscape painting donated by prominent artist, Aili Kurtis
   Aili Kurtis has generously agreed to do a painting inspired by her beloved Pike Lake and to donate it for auction at Watershed Discovery Evening. All of Aili's paintings clearly resonate with her belief that "My reverence for the land and its natural beauty, has inspired me to paint the rhythms and patterns of the Canadian landscape. I look for the abstract within the real." Many thanks to Aili for donating this wonderful work of art. You can explore the richness Aili's work and read about her accomplishments on her website by clicking here.
   
2. Oak Rocking Chair donated by Perth Home Furniture
   
   This handsome rocking chair is designed in the Shaker tradition and would look wonderful in either home or cottage. Sincere thanks to Molly Ellard, owner of Perth Home Furnishings, for donating this item. Perth Home Furniture provides a broad selection of home furnishings at very reasonable prices. You can visit Molly to examine the stock in her store at 18 Gore Street East in Perth, or check out the Home Furniture website by clicking here .
   
3. Gift Certificate from Blair and Son Home Furnishings
   This $100 gift certificate, donated by Blair and Son Home Furnishings, can be put towards whatever item you would like to acquire from their extensive collection. Blair and Son Home Furnishings have been known for generations for providing area residents with quality furniture at affordable prices. You can visit their showroom at 17070 Sunrise Drive, Highway 7, Perth, or check out their website by clicking here. Many thanks to Stewart Blair for making this generous donation.
   
4. Pottery Vase donated by Rita Redner and Food Gifts
   Rita Redner uses a combination of wheel thrown and hand built techniques to craft her stunning salt glazed stoneware and porcelain pieces. Her studio is always always one of the most popular ones on the Perth Autumn Studio Tour on Thanksgiving weekend~ click here for details.
   The co-donor, Food Gifts, is the friendly health food store and more, located at 9 Church Street in Westport. You can find other examples of Rita's work among the eclectic offerings at this store. Many thanks to Rita Redner and Chris Stone for this offering.
   
5. Etching donated by Franc van Oort
   Franc van Oort makes etchings/engravings the same way etchers have been doing for centuries. He employs traditional European techniques of printmaking to describe a rural Ontario landscape. His meticulous drawings are etched into copper plates, then hand printed in limited small editions. He is also one of the prominent artists featured in the Perth Autumn Studio Tour. Franc has donated a framed etching entitled "The Islet", which was inspired by Christie Lake. Many thanks to Franc for his donation.
   

People will have a chance to view the items prior to the auction, to think about how they might fit in their own homes. Of course potential bidders may want to consider that the proceeds from the auction will go directly to help fund our educational program for 2008.

Please plan to take part in this great fund raiser, which takes place at the Watershed Discovery Evening:

6:30 to 9:00 pm
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Royal Canadian Legion
26 Beckwith St., E. (lots of Parking!)
Perth, Ontario