PCA Gala & Auction @ Pendleton Center for the Arts

The Pendleton Center for the Arts is bringing their bi-annual Gala Auction back to the Carnegie Library building on Saturday, November 3, taking inspiration from a popular Mexican holiday. The Day of the Dead, or Dias de los Muertos, celebrates and honors deceased loved ones with a vibrant mix of festivities.

“We wanted to choose a theme that lent itself to colorful décor, and great music,” said Arts Center executive director Roberta Lavadour. “But really, it was the best excuse to have Mireya Gavia de Wolf cook amazing traditional food.” Wolf was born and raised in Guanajuato, Mexico, one of the country’s most beautiful cities, known for its art and culture. Her donations to previous auctions of dinners she prepares at her home for six guests have been highly prized.

To tie in with the Day of the Dead theme, Wolf is helping the Center create a large traditional ofrenda, or altar. Ofrendas are created to remember and honor deceased loved ones and ancestors. They include a range of colorful, festive flowers, foods and decoration, including photos. Anyone who would like to have a loved one’s photo included in the display is asked to drop by a small framed image before November 2.  

The Pendleton Center for the Arts hosts the Gala Auction every other year to raise funds that support the free art and music programming that the non-profit provides for the community, including the popular Rock & Roll Camp. Previous Gala themes have included Paris, Tuscany, Spain and Brazil.

“This event is essential to the fiscal stability of the organization,” noted Lavadour. It’s only by showing that the community supports an organization that we can approach larger donors.”

Foundation grants are often specifically restricted from paying for lights, heat, maintenance, staff salaries and other nuts and bolts expenses. Additionally, many program grants require a dollar for dollar match from the local community.

“The Gala Auction helps us raise those important funds while having a great party in the process,” she added.

Silent and live auction items include vacation getaways, outdoor adventures, and foodie delights. Artwork by local favorites will be featured alongside gift certificates from Pendleton’s best restaurants, and quality merchandise from local businesses. One of the featured items in this year’s live auction will be the original Blue Heron painting that launched Hiroko Cannon’s successful line of high-quality reproductions about ten years ago. The Art Center secured twenty pre-sales, providing the seed money to create an edition of 50 prints. Since then, Cannon has sold hundreds of images derived from her original paintings. 

“Hiroko wanted us to have this original work because it’s very special to her, and she hopes that it will be to auction-goers as well.”  

Tickets are $45 per person or $80 for a couple may be reserved at pendletonarts.org, by calling 541-278-9201 or stopping by the Arts Center, 214 North Main.  Arts Council members get an additional discount. Recommended attire is anything from casual to dress wear with traditional Mexican accessories to full-on Day of the Dead costumes. Silent auction and hors d’oeuvre service begins at 6:00 PM and live auction and entertainment begins at 7:45 PM.

 More information is available by calling the Pendleton Center for the Arts, 541-278-9201.