Ox-Bow Winter Benefit: THE Winter Art Party (original) (raw)

Benefit Thu Feb 09 2012

It's time for the Ox-Bow Winter Benefit! Hooray!!! What's Ox-Bow, you ask? Only Michigan's most inspiring, wild, longtime retreat/residency for artists, where Jim Henson is said to have invented Kermit the frog. What's the Winter Benefit? Only Chicago's best winter art party. Why? Well, it's a great chance to buy some fiiine pieces of work by Chicago's finest pieces of work -- big names, people. We're talking Jim Lutes. Rachel Niffenegger. Carl Baratta. In short, if you collect art, this is the premier event for buying it -- not only because you can get great deals on it, but the money goes to a pretty damn cool cause (Ox-Bow). And if you, like me, can't afford to buy much art but you still appreciate a good Swamp Thing-themed dance party, well, this is for you, too. Not convinced yet? Here are some more reasons for you to go:

(as told to me by Natalie Edwards, a fantastic writer who works for Ox-Bow:)

1. Zach and Seth Dodson are the MCs and auctioneers.

2. City Provisions is catering and making seasonal cocktails, and who doesn't love a seasonal cocktail? I mean, come on. It's seasonal! And free!

3. Check out this tumblr to see which artists will be appearing in our auction. They've got a ton of great art by all kinds of artists, from Whitney all-stars to local-up-and-comers.

4. There's a dance party. Eric May is the DJ. And he is fun.

5. There will be a photobooth. Everyone loves pictures of themselves.

6. Proceeds from this benefit go to making sure artists and writers can keep making work at Ox-Bow. Ox-Bow has been around for over 100 years. It's kind of a big deal.

7. There is a raffle. You just might win a rad work on paper.

Now for the logistics:
The benefit will take place on Friday, February 24 at Architectural Artifacts from 6:30 to 11:30 pm. There are several different price ranges. If you want to come to the whole party (this includes the food and auctions), that'll cost you 100(unlessyou′reanSAICstudentorfaculty−−thenit′s100 (unless you're an SAIC student or faculty -- then it's 100(unlessyou′reanSAICstudentorfaculty−−thenit′s50). BUT, if you just want to get in after 9pm for the booze and dance party, that'll run you only $25. Buy tickets here. FB event here.

See you there!

PS: I swear nobody is pulling my arm to post such a hyped, PR-sounding bit about this benefit. I went to the party last year and it was a blast, and I've been to Ox-Bow a few times. It's kind of like artist heaven. I really just like these guys that much. They deserve your support. That is all. Thank you.