Gallery Up auctions student, faculty art

By Alison Angel

angela@thejohnsonian.com

Winthrop University is set to host the fifth annual Silent Art Auction on Nov. 10. 

The auction will last three days, and Nov. 13 is the last day to place bids on any items. 

The gallery features work done exclusively by Winthrop students, faculty and alumni.

This year’s auction dovetails with an inaugural arts celebration called Muse Fest, which takes place on East Main Street in downtown Rock Hill. 

The Muse Fest, which also runs from Nov. 11 to Nov. 13, features live music and a wide variety of art exhibitions, including a photography show by senior Winthrop students and an outdoor graffiti wall.

This is the first time the auction of Winthrop art has taken place so early in the year.

Stephanie McCloud, Gallery Up employee, said the auction usually takes place during the Christmas holidays. 

This year’s Silent Art Auction moved in order to be included in the Muse Fest. 

McCloud said the auction was adopted by Gallery Up after originally being started on campus.

“It (the auction) used to take place on campus,” McCloud said. “It was started by a union of student artists, but they disbanded, so we (Gallery Up) adopted it.”

While the number of entries in the auction is still up in the air, a good number is expected, McCloud said. 

Last year alone the auction received more than 200 entries from various artists.

Artists who are interested in submitting work can submit up to four pieces of work and must provide information about the piece at drop off. 

The maximum size of work is 40 inches. 

Artists will receive 60 percent of the final bid on their art work, according to the Gallery Up website.

If you are interested in submitting a piece and would like more information on how to participate in the silent auction, visit galleryup.com or e-mail Gallery Up at info@galleryup.com.