WPA Auction Gala

The WPA's Auction Gala is tomorrow night at the Katzen. I'm sure it promises to be a big affair as tickets are already sold out. Bidding can be done online though.

Yesterday I made my way to the Katzen to see the work in the auction and the current shows at the museum.

One thing I'm curious about is just how does one get selected for the auction? I know there are curators but these curators seem to be coming from farther and farther away. They are bringing in work from all over the place for a fundraiser for a regional art non-profit. I'm curious how that conversation goes:

Curator: Hey Zoe, I was wondering if you'd provide two of your photographs for the WPA Auction Gala.

Zoe Strauss: Um, what's the WPA?

Curator: The Washington Project for the Arts.

Zoe: Washington?

Curator: Washington, D.C.

Zoe: OK...

Curator: It'll be a great way for you to reach the collectors in D.C. and to support a fantastic organization.

Zoe: Well, I was in the last Whitney Biennial and I did have 20+ photos at H&F Fine Arts a few months ago. But what the heck, sure, I'm in!

Of course I'm just teasing. I do think more should be done to highlight local artists... the ones who are supported by the WPA and could use some exposure. But, to be honest, that wouldn't be as high-profile or as profitable (probably). So I don't fault the WPA at all for taking this approach.

For me the WPA Auction Gala presents a really big group show where I can see a lot of what's going on today. I can also see what the curators like and let me tell you, this is pretty interesting.

I took many photos of the work on display. What follows are the images of work that appealed to me and for which I could get decent photos.

There's some good work here, huh? You have a day left to bid online [correction: you have until 6pm today]. Good luck!

More images of the other Katzen shows coming soon.

Comments

[richard]

Kathryn Wat's selections were drawn from the WPADC's art files.

[J.T. Kirkland]

Hey Richard,

You're right. Some of the curators definitely pulled soley from this area. And honestly, my perceptions are probably off. I'm sure there are many more local artists than not. For some reason when I viewed the work I felt like there was a lot of "foreign" work. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

[Susan Jamison]

Hi JT, Thanks so much for posting my bats. I like your blog.