HARPSWELL

The sixth annual “An Evening of Art” auction will be held at Orr’s Island Schoolhouse on July 2 from 7-9 p.m., complete with light hors d’oeuvres, desserts, soda and wine. Born out of a larger fundraiser for the Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Department, this more intimate occasion is meant to support the schoolhouse itself — a lynchpin in the community for over a century.

“The school was looking to raise funds like the fire department,” said Tim McCreight, a local artist who is coordinating the event along with Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Department. “For thirty years the fire department has been auctioning off broken furniture, kitchen items and other household stuff. Every so often a piece of art would come in, pieces that didn’t fit with the breakneck pace of the main auction. We thought that this art deserved to stand alone. These circumstances led to the birth of an art auction, and with the schoolhouse’s close proximity to the fire department, the firemen thought why not do this auction as a benefit for the school, to keep its rich history alive.”

McCreight encourages all local artists to donate their work. If their art sells at the auction, they’ll even see some return.

“We support local artists, and folks who donate are entitled to up to fifty percent of their earnings back,” McCreight said. “This is quite a distinction when compared to most art auctions. The artists think it’s great because they get to contribute and get something back. At the end of the day, that equals more high-caliber work.”

In addition to original art, McCreight is accepting second-hand art as well, pieces that originated in or were inspired by the Maine coast, but that may be well-traveled, too. A seascape piece called “Quiet Cove,” which McCreight received recently, fits the bill nicely.

“‘Quiet Cove’ is a large photograph of an old lobster pot with a buoy next to it,” said McCreight. “It was taken by Rachel Baillargeon of Lewiston, back in 1980. The work was sold to a Boston gallery, and floated around for years before it ended up in my hands. It’s almost like it was meant to end up here, at this auction. ‘Quiet Cove’ fits in perfectly with the other art here.”

Another feature of the auction is “object embellishment,” where artists are asked to find an object and mold it into a piece of art.

“In the past we’ve used wooden buoys, lunch boxes, birdhouses,” said McCreight. “This year we are asking the artists to use wooden trays. The trays act as an ideal blank slate to create art upon. I’m working on one myself.”

McCreight said the schoolhouse normally accepts 30-40 pieces of art for the auction. Though a lesser number than many other art auctions, this ensures the quality stays high.

“We don’t usually accept commercial prints unless they are really unusual,” said McCreight. “We like high-quality, original art.”

Most important, though, is the fun factor.

“I really emphasize that ‘An Evening of Art’ will be a good time,” said McCreight. “It’s the Saturday before the Fourth of July, so we really want people to come out and kick off the long weekend in style. Bring family, bring friends, have a drink, have a bite to eat and go home with a nice piece of art. It all supports keeping this wonderful schoolhouse in top condition.”

The Orr’s Island Schoolhouse dates back to the mid-19th Century, when children from kindergarten through sixth grade called the two-room building home.

“People in this town depended on on the schoolhouse for one hundred years,” said McCreight. “They used an outhouse for a bathroom, and a wood stove for heating. They would hire one of the older boys to keep the stove burning through the winter.”

The schoolhouse was decommissioned in the sixties and transformed into the historical site that it is today.

“It’s important to remember our town’s history,” said McCreight. “I hope ‘An Evening of Art’ can help the public do just that.”

The Orr’s Island Schoolhouse is located next to the Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Department on Harpswell Islands Road. For more information, call (207) 449-3293.

bgoodridge@timesrecord.com