Charleston Animal Society virtual art auction August 1 – 7

Incredible array of artists joining together to save animal lives.

Nationally and internationally known artists are donating artwork for Charleston Animal Society’s virtual art auction August 1 – 7. “We are so thankful to have these incredible artists rally around our community animals during such a difficult time,” said Charleston Animal Society Board Chairwoman Laurel Greer.

Using the hashtag #ArtistsSavingLives, the auction will be promoted on social media and the web to help attract people interested in fantastic pieces of art and rescuing homeless animals.

Art mediums include traditional and unique art, jewelry, sculptures and much more. The list of artists participating in the virtual auction is growing and includes:

• Mary Whyte is a watercolor artist and the recipient of the Portrait Society of America’s Gold Medal. She’s won recent national acclaim for her We the People exhibition featuring portraits of U.S. veterans from all 50 states.
• Linda Fantuzzo creates paintings that are represented in the collections of museums around South Carolina, including the Gibbes Museum. Her work is also displayed in private and corporate collections around the U.S. and Europe.
• Betty Anglin Smith has been an artist living and painting in the Charleston area for the last 40 years. Her works have been exhibited nationally in galleries from New York to San Francisco.
• Robert Lange uses oils to create stunning contemporary art highlighted by the integration of ethereal light. His most notable bodies of work are nationally recognized and internationally collected.
• Connie Townsend is known around the country for her playful oil paintings of dogs and cats riding motorcycles, driving cars, and hanging out in coffee shops.
• Many nationally and internationally known animaliere artists will also be participating.

HOW TO BID

The artwork can be viewed at CharlestonAnimalSociety.org/art-auction starting July 25^th. Bidding will then run August 1 – 7.  The host gallery for the virtual art auction is Dog & Horse Fine Art & Portraiture Gallery owned by Jaynie Spector in Charleston.

SUPPORTING THE ANIMALS DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS

With much of the Animal Society’s program and fundraising revenue, which provides for nearly 80% of its income, derailed this year, the struggle to keep above water is daunting.  The Society’s major fundraising events have also been impacted by COVID-19, leaving the shelter with a potential $1 million-dollar shortfall.

Each year, we care for upwards of 20,000 animals and during most hurricane seasons, you will find us partnering with national organizations to evacuate animals out of harm’s way up and down the Southeast coast. “We will be relying on you more than ever this year so that we can continue to carry out the purpose you have charged us with – preventing cruelty to animals,” said Charleston Animal Society President & CEO Joe Elmore, CAWA. “Bidding on a piece of art will help us save more lives.”