Auctions are broadcast live on the internet but are so much more fun in person. The perfect excuse to head this direction, grab a bite at a Design District eatery and get ready to lift that auction paddle.

The auction house is located in the Market Square Furniture Building on the second floor. Auctions will be held at 10am on Saturdays, check the website for scheduled auctions.

Better late than never! That was certainly my M.O. yesterday, showing up late (or at least later than I had planned) to almost everything I attended yesterday! After showing off our LOL development at the Urban Land Institute’s DFW Awareness event, Andrew and I headed over to Dallas Contemporary to check out the last hour of PEEK!, the preview party for their live and silent auction that will take place this Saturday, May 15.

Though the check-in crew was winding down in the entrance, the party inside was still in full swing when we made it in around 9:15 pm. I grabbed a glass of wine and Andrew a beer, from an impressive selection of craft brews.

Artwork lined the perimeter of the space, making it easy to peruse and people watch at the same time. Impressively (but not surprisingly), many of the silent auction items were already decorated with “sold” tags.

I quickly spotted several familiar Design District faces, one of which was Monte Martin (pictured below) who I recently met up with at his Dragon street digs. Monte explained that his company, Martin & Martin Design is an underwriter for the event and  provided the installation and lighting services. His crew will also play a fun role in the live auction…but more details on that Monday!

Another, highlight of the evening was getting to meet Allyjayne, the winner of the Wish!ful Thinking Photography Contest. We chatted about photography, blogging and even found a few mutual friends! (It really is a small world!)

As the winner, Allyjane received two tickets to PEEK! She brought her boyfriend, Chris as her plus one and I got a cute shot of the couple enjoying the event.

Unfortunately I was too busy gabbing with friends to snap any more photos. I promise to be a more diligent reporter at Wish! this Saturday!

See pictures from PEEK! on Flickr.

The Dallas Contemporary
161 Glass Street
Dallas, TX 75207
(214) 821-2522
www.dallascontemporary.org

The 6th annual Alley’s House Art Auction will be hosted this Saturday, March 6 at American Fine Art Gallery in the Dallas Design District. I learned about this great charity event from Toni Patterson, an Alley’s House board member who just happens to be a LowerOakLawn.com reader and art enthusiast. In researching for this post I’ve learned a lot about the work that Alley’s House does and I am thrilled to be able to promote an event of such a worthy Dallas non-profit!

Alley’s House’s mission is to empower teen mothers and their children to achieve independence through support services, education, and mentoring. They were recently featured on WFAA in a segment introduced by none other than Oprah Winfrey!

Saturday night’s event will feature appetizers, cocktails, a silent auction, and a live art auction hosted by Anna de Haro of Clear Channel radio. All of the art featured in the auction has been donated by local artists, including Joey Brock, Bob Munro, Catherine Gauldin, Jill Nonnemacher and Shawn Corbett. Each of the artists has donated one piece of which 100% of the proceeds will go to Alley’s House and there will be additional art for auction of which a smaller percentage will be donated. The artist will be in attendance so you can meet them and enjoy their art.

“Charity events like this art auction for Allie’s House create so much energy at the gallery,” gallery owners Ardell and David Zuger explained. “American Fine Art  has been open in Dallas for 28 years and the people of Dallas have been so good to us. We have had the opportunity to develop a strong, loyal clientele. Hosting this event is our way of giving back to the Dallas community.”

The artwork from the auction will be on display at American Fine Art Gallery the week prior to and after the auction.

What: Charity Art Auction benefiting Alley’s House
When: Saturday, March 6; 7-10 p.m.
Where: American Fine Art Gallery, Dragon Street
Why: To enjoy an evening of art and support a great cause!
How Much: $25 in advance; $30 at the door

Note: Your donations made to Alley’s House are tax deductible.

This year Dallas Design District newcomer Poggenpohl has paired up with Sara C. Johannes, executive chef of Wolfgang Puck’s Five Sixty, to offer an exclusive auction package:

Someone’s in the Kitchen with Sara: That would be 14 of you as the Wolfgang Puck-trained master instructs you on the fine art of preparing transcendent cuisine in a fantasy setting. PoggenPohl is the creme de la creme of kitchen design, and Sara Johannes of Five-Sixty will host your group in an interactive cooking class for 14 at the famed showroom. You will then be treated to the fruits of your labor: a three-course meal with wine pairings. Bon appetit!

A night of good friends, great food and a sneak peak inside one of the Design District’s hottest new showrooms – sounds like the recipe for a good time to me! Get out those checkbooks my friends!

Each of the 19 other participating signature chefs has also designed packages that guests may bid on at a live action at the event.

Guests will enjoy chef samplings, fine wine and the opportunity to bid on star-worthy silent auction items from 6:00-8 p.m. The exciting live auction will begin at 8:00 p.m.

Individual tickets are $300 (yikes!), but you can sleep well knowing that all funds raised at the event will benefit the March of Dimes campaign to reduce the rate of premature births, birth defects, and other serious threats to babies’ health, including support for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Family Support Project at Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas.

For more information download the invitation to A Culinary Constellation. To purchase tickets and for more information on additional underwriting or sponsorship opportunities, contact Katie Sperry at (972) 669-3463 or ksperry@marchofdimes.com.

Last week I ventured over to the Dallas Auction Gallery for the auction of Derrill Osborne’s lifetime bovine collection. Yep, you read right, bovine, as in cows. My first time to an auction, I was not sure what to expect. Nothing could have prepared me for the bevy of bovine art and furniture I witnessed as I stepped foot into the auction gallery.

Furniture, paintings, sculptures and other cow collectibles lined the walls of the large auction hall. It was SRO as patrons filled the 200+ seats in the auditorium. Organizers informed me there were over 300 in attendance, not including online and phone bidding. Over 30 countries were represented in the online bidding and bids came by phone from all over the United States. Apparently a lot of people drove down from Oklahoma for the auction too. Not too surprising — you know how those Okies love their cows!

I have to admit, I was a bit shocked over the enthusiasm expressed over a few (well, a few hundred actually) cow pieces.

I guess, more than the cows, it had a lot to do with the collector: Derrill Osborne, the eccentric fashion icon who stood for 23 plus years at the helm of Neiman Marcus’s men’s fashion division. Mr. Osborne’s assembled his collection for over 50 years from across the globe – from China to Germany, New Mexico to Texas.

The auction started at 6 and bidding lasted until almost midnight. (I only lasted till about 8:00 pm). Scott Shuford, president of Dallas Auction Gallery said, “It was an honor to host the Derrill Osborn auction. The event was a great success and we are very pleased with results. We are thrilled that these prized bovine works have gone to good homes.”

Raising over a half a million dollars, I’d say that was a success too!

See below for some of the most surprising pieces and prices of the night:

American Folk Oil Painting

On wood triptych depicting a horse fair with cattle. Unsigned. Unframed.
Presale Estimate: $500-$700
Price Realized: $10,755.00

Panel: 30"H x 40.5"W. Provenance: The collection of Derrill Osborn.

Chinese cinnabar curio cabinets

The top panels with greek key borders, the lower panels carved with peony decoration.
Presale Estimate: $1,000-$2,000
Price Realized: $12,250.00

Provenance: The collection of Derrill Osborn.

“Chisholm Trail Cattle Drive”

Donna Cook oil painting on canvas. Signed and dated lower right.
Presale estimate: $5,000-$7,000
Price Realized: $10,755.00

Canvas: 20"H x 48"W; Frame: 28"H x 55.5"W. Provenance: The collection of Derrill Osborn.

Collection of 300+ vintage toy cows, horses, and other farm animals

Made from metal, wood, plastic, celluloid, etc. Plus trees, wagons, fencing and people. All in a custom built painted cabinet.
Presale Estimate: $1,200-$2,500
Price Realized: $5,975.00

Provenance: The collection of Derrill Osborn.

See more photos on Flickr: Derrill Osborne Lifetime Bovine Auction

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