The first Block of Art/ Sovereign Majestic Theater Art Auction raised about $1,200 for the Sovereign Majestic Theater and the annual weekend event.
"We are very pleased with the turnout today," said Micah Gursky, one of two auctioneers for the event,Frank Peron being the other. Twenty-five people attended the inaugural auction.
With opening remarks from Kay Jones, executive director of Schuylkill County's VISION, the auction started at the Sovereign Majestic, 209 N. Centre St, Pottsville, at 12:15 p.m. and lasted about two hours.
Ceramics, a rain barrel decorated as part of the "Art of Rain" contest, photographs and other artwork created by local artists and those from outside the area were auctioned for participants who purchased bidder paddles for $5 apiece. The artwork was sold with bids ranging from $5 to $210.
"Some of the photographs are pretty interesting," Andrew Pollard, Pottsville, said.
He bought a photograph titled "Illusions" by Lisa Quirk for $20. It featured a stump in a lake. He also purchased three sawdust fired vases, among other pieces.
A rain barrel completed by artist Kathy Connelly and donated by the Schuylkill Headwaters Association was the highest paid piece of art. It was bought by Wendi Wheeler, Orwigsburg.
Connelly said after seeing a picture of poppies that is how she chose the design for her work.
"It was just a fun thing to do," she said in designing the rain barrel.
A piece titled "Miner with Flowers" by Frank Wysochansky, born in Monessen, Pennsylvania had a $40 start bid and sold for $170. The wax reduction photograph features a miner holding flowers. It was donated by the Wyso Foundation and dedicated to the Wysochansky's creations. His creations often deal coal mining, according to a biography found on the Internet of the Wyso Foundation.
Jones said she was impressed with the 25 in attendance for the auction.
"Next year, we'll have another," she said of the auction.