Art auction benefits Habitat for Humanity

I like art. I certainly enjoy a party. And I’m passionate about the good work done by Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County.

unnamedOn April 8, Habitat is hosting its second live auction and art show to raise money to help people who need homes. The event is in memory of longtime Habitat supporter and art lover Judy McCabe, who worked tirelessly to plan last year’s successful auction of paintings donated by Dick Poole, a lawyer and collector with terminal cancer who made this event part of his considerable legacy to the community.

A year later, both Judy and Dick are gone. But their dedication to helping others lives on.

This year’s event, aptly titled There is no pARTy without ART, will be held at Christ Church Christiana Hundred in Greenville, 6-8:30 p.m. It’s co-chaired by ardent art patrons Cindy Pettinaro Wilkinson and Stephen Mottola. Tickets are $80 for couples, $50 for individuals.

I’ll be there. Hope you will be, too!

 

Picture this: the Habitat auction

Picture this.

A longtime art collector closes his respected gallery in Rehoboth Beach, Del.

He is diagnosed with cancer. His wife has Alzheimer’s. And he is thinking not only of what he will do with his art collection but what good he will do in the world.

poolepic1_1_That’s the real-life story of retired lawyer Dick Poole and his wife Elisa, who have donated the bulk of their 500-piece collection to Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County, to be sold at a special auction. All the proceeds go to Habitat.

I got to know Dick when I was one of many volunteers and staff helping to plan the event. He is generous, smart and has fabulous taste–and just got great news from his doctors, who found him cancer free. Bidders will find lots of wonderful paintings to buy, including many by Delaware artists.

There’s still time to register for the auction, to be held Friday, March 14 at Arsht Hall on Pennsylvania Avenue.

The preview gala starts at 5:30 p.m. Bidding begins at 7 p.m., with renowned auctioneer Alasdair Nichol wielding the gavel. Nichol is vice chairman of Freeman’s, an esteemed auction house in Philadelphia, and is donating his considerable talents to the event. You might known him as the guy with the Scottish brogue who appraises art on the PBS show Antiques Roadshow.

You can sign up for the event at the Habitat website. Admission is $40 or $50 at the door.