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In June, as part of the celebration of Catharine Robb Whyte’s 115th birthday, the Whyte is holding its first-ever online auction.
“We’ve been really impressed by the range of donations that have come in for the auction,” says Hope Smith, a Whyte Museum Board member who is coordinating this special event with a team of volunteer board members including Rod Green, Allison Edwards, Alexandra Montgomery, and Joan Booth. For just six weeks, they have been busy reaching out to the community for support. The response has been gratifying. Over a hundred intriguing works have been donated already.
“It is touching because it shows how much the community values the Whyte,” says Smith.
An immediate and generous donation came from Doug Levis who is contributing the services of his well-known auction house, Levis Fine Art Auctions. “We will do anything we can for the Whyte. It’s a very special place.”
The theme of the auction is Rocky Mountain legends, with items and experiences promising a mountain memory for everyone. Works of art that span the history of the Bow Valley, from F.M. Bell-Smith to the present, include paintings by W.J. Phillips, Michael Cameron, David Thauberger, H.G. Glyde, and vintage mountain photographs. Quirky folk art sculptures and a first-edition book by Emily Carr will attract a wide range of interests.
Experiences range from luxury accommodation packages, helicopter rides, a hike with Sharon Wood, a visit to the intriguing and private Museum of Making, and dinner and programs with outstanding mountain speakers such as Chic Scott and art curator/hiker Lisa Christensen. Fran Drummond from the legendary Twin Falls Chalet, is donating some heritage pieces. Local art galleries are reaching out to their clients and artists, more donations are arriving every day.
The deadline of April 15 has been set to complete the gathering of donations.
So there’s still time!
As part of your spring clean-up and to help the Whyte, please contact Hope Smith at fortitudine@shaw.ca or Rod Green rburngreen@gmail.com if you have something that will stir a mountain memory (and increase the bidding).
Covid-19 restrictions make an online auction a perfect approach, and bidding is expected from the mountain community around the world. A safely distanced in-person display of the sale items will be on view at the Whyte Museum in late May.
The proceeds from the sale will go towards digital access to the collections and exhibitions as well as to support Indigenous programming.
Watch here and the Levis website for further details. Be prepared to bid often and bid high!
Image: Wix Stock Image, Foggy Mountains