Art for art's sake

About 400 guests perused 102 art pieces during Starry, Starry Night Nov. 13 at Embassy Suites in Rogers.

The event, which benefits Youth Bridge, raised $34,489 through sponsorships, ticket sales, promotional sales and artwork auctions, according to Nancy Hairston, director of development at the organization. The art pieces were sold in a silent auction, and proceeds will go toward helping youth in residential treatment through the art therapy program, she said.

"Art therapy uses materials such as paint, oil pastels, markers, clay or crayons as a means of self-expression. It is a great solution for a teen that has been in a difficult situation such as divorce, abuse or violence in the home, or has struggled with an addiction or perhaps an eating disorder to communicate and identify thoughts and feelings about their different experiences and circumstances," according to Hairston.

Many of the art pieces were inspired by Vincent Van Gogh's work, but artists could submit art inspired by other artists or completely original pieces, according to youthbridge.com.

There were three artist categories: youth, amateur and professional. First place in the youth category was awarded to "The Road Ahead," created by Youth Bridge Benton County Emergency Shelter Youth. "Cecile's Swirls" by Mandy Hoffman won first place in the amateur category; and "A Place Called Hope" by Michael Skinner and Vivian Saddic took first in the professional category. The judges were Karolyn Farrell, Jonathan Harris, Neelo Ahmad, Matthew Herren, Billye Veteto, Denise Garner, Mauriahh Beezly, Natalie Olsen and Joy Price.

Daymara Baker, co-founder of the Community Creative Center and national account director at Walmart and Sam's Club for Chiquita Brands, was chairwoman of the event, and Brittney Duke of Saatchi & Saatchi X was the honorary chairwoman. Long-term board members Denny Upton, Doris Bishop, Martha Agee and Ralph Johnson were honored during the event.

A new part of this year's event was pairing culinary artists and visual artists at sensory stations. The pairings were artist Amy Eichler and William McCormick of Mayflower Restaurant, artists Mike Skinner and Vivian Saddic and Jerrmy Gawthrop of Greenhouse Grille and artist Matt Miller and Vince Pianalto of Bouchee Bistro. Art and dinner by these pairings, along with a painting done live by Christina Mariotti and a dinner for six sponsored by Case Dighero with Eleven, were sold in a live auction by Dick Trammel, which raised $4,700.