Ah Haa Auction 2018: Unique Art, Excursions, Experiences on the Block July 20

12 Jul Ah Haa Auction 2018: Unique Art, Excursions, Experiences on the Block July 20

Come one, come all. Time to celebrate art and all the ways that art matters to Telluride. The Ah Haa School for the Arts presents its 26th Annual Art Auction, Friday, July 20, under the tent and inside the Depot at 300 S. Townsend. With live action on stage, hundreds of silent auction items (artworks, gifts and gift certificates) and inside, fabbie margaritas and delicious food, this annual community event is the place to be and the place to be seen. It is also the non-profit art school’s major annual fundraiser.

Tickets to the July 20 event are $35 in advance; $40 the day of the auction. Reserved tickets are $100, offering prime seating with the best views of the live auction stage. Purchase tickets and preview live auction items online here or stop by during business hours, M-F, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, call the school at 970-728-3886.

Hundreds of items are now on display at the Depot and available for pre-bidding with a buy-it-now option for each piece.

In celebration of Ah Haa’s soon-to-be new home at the corner of Fir and Pacific streets – yes – part of the Town’s “big dig” across from BIT, which will also house underground public parking and affordable housing units – this year’s auction theme is “Sweet Home Ah Haa.”

Falling within the “home” theme are several live auction items, including a set of Eames chairs, a glamped-out 16-foot tipi, a lighted “electrolier” wooden wall hanging by Katy Parnello, and a three-night retreat at a luxurious Sedona home.

Unique work of art, a lighted “electrolier” wooden wall hanging, by Katy Parnello.

Speaking of luxurious accommodations, also on the auction block are two distinct travel packages that include decadent digs.

Ah Haa’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road: Elton John Final Tour Package” offers four tickets to Elton John’s last (sold-out) Pepsi Center performance in Denver in February and a two-night stay at the historic and chic Magnolia Hotel in downtown Denver.

Elton John performing at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs on March 16th, 2017. (courtesy Tina Hagerling, The Know)

For the ultimate NYC experience, check out Ah Haa’s fabulous Thanksgiving package complete with orchestra-seat tickets to the Tony Award-winning “Hamilton” and four nights at a three-bedroom condo on NYC’s Upper East Side. Guests can even ride off their Thanksgiving meal with all-access passes to Soul Cycle.

What’s an art auction without some art?

The one and only Judy Kohin, Ah Haa’s executive director, has contributed one of her beautiful mixed-media encaustic paintings titled “Liftoff” (36×36).

Additionally, fellow longtime resident Carl Marcus donated “San Miguel Alpenglow,” a 40×60 color photograph of Ajax peak and the San Miguel River.

Carl Marcus’ San Miguel Alpenglow.

There’s also an aspen tree-inspired GEM electric car designed by Ah Haa’s own Lauren Metzger.

Sure to garner some serious bids for Ah Haa this year is Telski’s generous donation of two one-year Platinum Telluride Ski & Golf Club Memberships, providing two transferable season ski passes, complimentary golf, Peaks Resort spa access, and inclusion in a number of members-only social events throughout the year.

And finally, from a celebrity who recently made Telluride his new part-time home, country music singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley will donate some one-on-one hiking or skiing time to the highest bidder.

Dirks Bentley is supporting the Ah Haa auction.

But Ah Haa won’t reveal all of its live auction secrets in advance. Only those who attend the event will be able to bid on a super coveted item inside a surprise box. (Note: the size and shape of the box will have nothing to do with the grandiosity of what’s inside!)

All proceeds from the annual auction benefit the programs of the Ah Haa School – art camps, after-school classes, evening and weekend adult classes, visiting artist workshops, gallery exhibitions, community space rentals, tuition assistance, and more.

New this year, all proceeds from the live auction paddle raise will be put toward the school’s new building, slated for move-in in 2020.

For a preview of Ah Haa’s auction items, stop by the school in advance.