We are excited that the Bay Area Glass Institute’s Great Glass Auction Gala 2012 will take place on March 24, 2012 and attract many of the leading collectors in San Francisco and Silicon Valley and contributing artists from near and far.

Please respond on-line and let us know you are coming.

Why Attend the BAGI Auction?
We know you are frequently asked to give to charitable programs and participate in events.  BAGI makes an impact by bringing artists and patrons together (like this visit from Michael Menconi and Charlie Lowrie) and by teaching classes to kids and adults.  

The Auction has been an essential part of our fundraising and outreach effort for the past ten years. Over 120 people attended the 2011 event, raising over $140,000.  The event contributes one-quarter of our operating budget and allows us to continue our Visiting Artist Program, bringing outstanding artists to the facility to teach local artists and meet patrons. It also supports a student scholarship to attend each of BAGI's Visiting Artist master classes.

This year's event will again feature local, national and international artists and a terrific catalog distributed on-line (view the 2011 catalog) and in paper form.  Kip Toner will be the auctioneer and the Palo Alto JCC is the site, with a multi-course meal during the event.

The jury of Dorothy Saxe, world renowned collector, and Karen Kinzle, Executive Director of the Palo Alto Art Center, will select an artist to receive the Saxe Fellowship at BAGI Award.  Past Fellowship winners include Melissa and Keith Bispo, Randy Walker, Richard Royal, Sabrina Knowles and Jenny Pohlman, and Michael Janis.  Cassandra Straubing won the 2011 award for her piece, “The Necessity of Dairyman.”

And you will get to vote on the People’s Choice Award ($1,000 cash prize and a spot in the Visiting Artist Series).  Gala attendees choose “The People’s Choice” artist from those who are residing in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.  The winner receives $1,000 as well as a spot in BAGI’s Visiting Artist Series. The 2011 award was won by San Jose, California-based artist Shaun Griffiths for his piece, "Alone Together."

We hope you will decide to attend the auction.  Please click on this link to respond on-line.

Sincerely,

Steven Aldrich                                     Joan Phillips
Co-chair, Auction                                Executive Director
Chairman of the Board                         Bay Area Glass Institute
Bay Area Glass Institute