During the Tryon Christmas Stroll, TDDA (Tryon Downtown Development Association) sponsored a new event: the silent ornament auction, hosted by Skyuka Fine Art. Local artists were asked to create and donate handmade, one-of-a-kind ornaments.
Soon thereafter, like the 12 days of Christmas, the ornaments starting coming in: 12 ceramic painted, 11 watercolor prints, 10 adorned feathers, nine forged copper, eight made from nature, seven miniature paintings, six painted bulbs, five wooden cutouts, four recycled materials, three fabric angels, two metal snowflakes and one fiber art creation entitled “Santa’s Snowball.”

 

The bidding began during the Christmas Stroll and ended two weeks later with a reception to finalize the bidding. There was a rush of last-minute bidding and some bidding wars.
Prizes were awarded for the following categories:
• Highest dollar amount brought in by one artist: Kim Attwooll
• Highest dollar amount brought in by one ornament: Barbara Miller
• Hottest bidding activity for one ornament: Bill Crowell.
Other artists donating ornaments included: Douglas Chamberlain, Kathleen Carson, Hedy Lonero, Mimi Pospisil, David Edgar, Lucinda Pittman, Alex Trumble, Kelly Sparks, Monica Jones, Chris Rough Baschon, Lynette Attwood, Doug Dacey, Kim Nelson and Green River Framing.
TDDA raised $800 from the auction, with those funds designated to help fund the advertising budget for the Tryon Gallery Trot’s 2012 season.
– article submitted by Kim Nelson