BY KIRSTEN BOLTON
For ArtSpring
The big story for ArtSpring last week may have been the record-breaking $127,000 outcome of its most important fundraiser of the year, but behind-the-scenes stories have since been trickling in about how 2024’s Treasure Fair was a nexus of lucky coincidences, intersections, and connections that contributed to its success and brought people together.
The donor who contributed the Porsche 365 Speedster replica did so because he saw an article in the Driftwood about the 2023 Treasure Fair. He wanted to remain anonymous.
The man who won was looking for this exact car, having owned one 30 years ago. When Treasure Fair organizer Catherine Griffiths contacted the vintage car restoration company in California to confirm the specs, she asked if there was anyone in Canada looking for this car. The chatty receptionist identified this person, who lives in Sidney. After a few competitive bids, now he and his son co-own the vehicle. The anonymous donor of the Porsche went on to be the winning bid on the $10,000 custom wooden kayak.
Artist Diana Thompson stormed into ArtSpring upon seeing her work up for auction. She dropped her errands in favour of coming to Treasure Fair to see who was selling unauthorized prints of her work and to submit a “buy it now” bid. Upon inspection, it had been mislabelled. It was not a print but rather her original pastel of a purple iris in blossom that was sold 30 years ago in the Salt Spring Art Gallery above the post office in Ganges.
With her bid, she had just purchased back her own original art. Three minutes later, the donor of the pastel and avid gardener Pauline Maughan came to bid on a rug, and she confirmed she was the purchaser of that pastel years ago. The two women now plan to connect over coffee.
“I’m very happy to have the pastel back and so pleased that it is in such good condition,” said Thompson. “The show was August 1985. It was my first solo show, I was 26 years old, and all these years later, I’m thrilled to be reunited with it because of all this!”
Griffiths couldn’t be happier. “In the end, all this effort, all this time, is about local people, the arts and community coming together.”
In what will be her last year as coordinator, Griffiths led a team of 50 volunteers over four months, from soliciting donations to inputting into the website, setting up the displays to manning the event and helping with tear down. From newcomers to veterans, the team included volunteer Patricia Ayton, who comes from Ireland each summer to help, and Laurel Lemchuk-Favel, who took on the challenge of accepting, curating and hanging the large art collection this year.
Questions often arise about what happens to items that don’t receive bids. On Sunday, anyone who has the winning bid is expected to pick up their items in person, and the parking lot is a stream of cars and trucks with helpers ready to assist. The secret is that items with no bids are available at the opening bid value with no competition. This year, a solid wood china cabinet hutch went for $50, and similar below-value deals occurred for an upscale couch, two curio glass display cabinets, dishware and art.
On the Monday, after certain items are held back for the 2025 Treasure Fair or returned to owners, representatives from local charities Transitions Thrift Store and Lady Minto Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop are invited to select items for their respective stores to ensure donated treasures are not wasted and find a home.
Responding to what sounds like a windfall fundraiser, ArtSpring’s executive and artistic director Howard Jang puts things into perspective.
“We couldn’t be more pleased by the support for and outcome of this fundraiser in our 25th anniversary year, and we are grateful to our volunteers, donors and bidders,” said Jang.
Funds are invested into operations, local and visiting artist programming, accessible Theatre Angel and subsidized youth tickets, and capital projects such as the replacement of 25-year-old carpeting.
Donations of $25 and $250 for the new carpet fund are still being accepted at treasurefair.artspring.ca until the end of August.