February 29, 2016
Only six of the 86 artworks available for sale found new owners when the hammer fell at the Kingaroy Art Gallery’s inaugural Great Summer Art Sale on Saturday morning.
The auction was the culmination of a month-long display by 36 South Burnett artists who submitted a total of 140 works.
Some were sold in the lead-up to Saturday’s auction, and some were withdrawn from the sale by their artists.
But the rest were auctioned by well-known local auctioneer Bill Steffensen, from Across Country Real Estate and Livestock at Murgon.
Unfortunately, the small group of would-be buyers kept their hands firmly in their pockets for most of the sale, with only six works being snapped up – all for bargain prices.
Eleven other artworks attracted bids, but all below the reserve set by their owners. Private negotiations followed the auction.
The highest price paid on the day was $286 for a digital artwork by Jon Baird which attracted spirited bidding.
Second highest was $220 for a stunning work, “Waves” by Goomeri potter Fay Stumm.
Three linocuts by Carmel Nott, from Kingaroy, were sold as well as a photograph by Kingaroy’s Max Walters.
The cash prize winners of the People’s Choice voting were also announced:
1. Elizabeth Greensill for “With Love From Ringsfield” (sold before the auction)
2. Dylan Malcolm Masnata for “Untitled Clown”
3. Trish Erkens for “Who Who Who Said That?”
