By giving, we get. And by getting we give. This is the simple premise behind an upcoming event for which 50 artists are giving an 8×10 work of art and on December 4, in Downtown Keene, 50 fortunate buyers will get an original at a bargain price. And when they get the art, they write the check to Cedarcrest, the home for children in Keene. The checks and payments from customers will go directly to Cedarcrest. The gift is tax-deductible.

In return, the artists get a new patron or customer, they get attention to their work, and they get to help advertise the Gallery @ Syd’s where their work is exhibited year-round. They also get to be part of a large donation to Cedarcrest.

The idea is the brainchild of Mary Iselin, the popular impressionist painter from Marlborough. One day last winter while hanging a number of her paintings on a wall at the Gallery @ Syd’s, Mary was struck by how wonderful the space is and how few people seem to know about it. She took on the challenge of helping more art-lovers get in the door to experience the art and the space.

Photo: Minutes before Mary had the idea, and just after they finished the installation, Mary is pictured on the right with Gallery @ Syd’s manager, Ruth Sterling, on the left. 

One of Mary’s workshop students, Bob King, also from Marlborough, joined Mary’s effort as soon as he heard about it. The two presented the proposition to the Monadnock Area Artists Association membership and other attendees at the group’s spring meeting on March 21. On the spot, 20 people signed up to give away their art. The project was enthusiastically launched.

Jeanne Maguire Thieme offered her support and help. By so doing, two of the Monadnock Region’s most notable artists, who both have successful art practices, led the way for a volunteer team to design the project and consider the many aspects. Enlisting 50 artists. Figuring out how all 50 pieces could be framed uniformly. Figuring out how to mount this exhibit within the ongoing regular exhibit at the Gallery @ Syd’s. Later, figuring out how to give guests an equal chance to procure their favorite artist’s piece.

The question of why two established professional artists would want to help 48 fellow artists has to be considered. The answer perhaps lies in their generosity of spirit. Both are acclaimed teachers and share their experience and expertise freely. And both are members of MAAA and exhibit at the Gallery @ Syd’s, even though they could—and do—exhibit at elite galleries throughout New England. The quality of their work commands respectable sales prices and yet on December 4, two lucky people will go home with their originals for a fraction of the usual price (Thieme’s actual 8×10 watercolor, in the actual frame, pictured).

So what do Iselin and Thieme get in return? This would be fun to ask them at the show.

The event is called the “Benefit Art Sale and Reception,” but is taking on the nickname, “The 8×10 Show” among artists. Open to the public, the committee will be issuing Save the Date postcards and invitations. To join the invitation list, there is a registration link which puts guests in line to enter the show and make their purchase. Buyers are reminded that if their favorite artist’s piece has already gone when they get inside, there are 140 other artworks hanging in the Gallery @ Syd’s, likely including their favorite artist’s work.

Organizers are designing an event rivaling any art gallery anywhere with gourmet refreshments, chilled champagne and gentle harp music. All of this is happening at the start of the holiday season, the time of year celebrating both the joy of giving and the joy of receiving.

BENEFIT ART SALE AND RECEPTION INFORMATION and REGISTRATION

Committee Members: Mary Iselin, Bob King, Jeanne Maguire Thieme, Mary Kirk, Sue Cadmus, Jenny Pettis and Ruth Sterling

Exhibiting Artists: 
Carmela Azzaro
Phil Bean
Susan Beetle
Barbara Berntsen
Lynne K Brown
Sue Cadmus
Dana Carley
Stacia Castonguay
Nancy Christopher
Carol Corliss
Gary Custer
Laurence Danel-Moore
Alicia Drakiotes
Peter Granucci
Jackie Griswold
Jennifer Hinson
Wendi Hulslander
Sherry Huntley
Bert Inman
Mary Iselin
Chris Justice
Robert King
Ed Kingsbury
Mary Kirk
Aurianna Lett
Jeanne Maguire Thieme
Nicole Martineau Conroy
Catherine Meister
Jim Murphy
Kathleen O’Donnell
Shannon Perry
Judy Perry
Jenny Pettis
Kate Ramsay-St Pierre
Marylise Reilly-Fajal
Deirdre Rinaldi
Alec Ross
Ann Sawyer
Kate Schwerin
Gail Shelley
Sandy Sherman
Ruth Sterling
Kris Stewart
Lee Stierhoff
Craig Stockwell
John Traynor
Gill Truslow
Peggy Van Valkenburgh
Sterling Vanderhoof
AnneMarie Warren
Richard Whitney
Bill Whyte
Liz Winchester-Larson

Related stories:
• Artist Bob King’s inspiring year-round giving to Cedarcrest
• Indian King Framery offering to build 50 uniform frames, underwritten by Joann and Bill Fenton of Fenton Family Dealerships
• Jay and Tracy Croteau of Syd’s hosting the Gallery year-round, taking no commissions
• How the Gallery has grown to include 40 artists, 140 pieces of art and, upstairs, an Art in the Park Shop
• How MAAA presents Art in the Park each Labor Day weekend and manages the Gallery @ Syd’s year-round: many area artists exhibit at both!