GREENFIELD — Fancy casual is the theme at this weekend’s Diamonds and Denim Gala, to be held Saturday, Oct. 16, at the Bradley Hall ballroom in Greenfield.
The gala is the first hosted by the Hancock County Arts, a nonprofit group of volunteers whose mission is to celebrate and embrace the arts.
“We named it the Diamonds and Denim Gala because people didn’t know what to wear, so we thought they could put a little bling in their jeans,” said Hancock County Arts president Alice Hedden.
Guests can enjoy hors d’oeuvres, desserts and a cash bar while checking out a number of items up for bid in an online auction, which began Sept. 1 and ends at 9 p.m. Saturday.
Bidding is all done online, and is not limited to those attending the gala. Those who wish to bid on items can do so from a mobile phone, and will be notified right away if they’re outbid.
“Last year we shipped items to seven different states,” said Hedden, who has already gotten out-of-state interest in a miniature helmet and photograph signed by retired Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri.
Other auction items include breakfast with the mayor of Greenfield and meals cooked by a private chef, as well as flying lessons, home decor and games. A number of prints by local and regional artists are also up for bid.
Last year due to COVID, only a handful of arts council members gathered in the gallery to watch the nonprofit’s first online auction wind down online. “We were sitting around bidding against each other, listening to a saxophonist play live music. It was great,” Hedden recalled.
This year, however, she’s thrilled to share the fun with a larger crowd. More than 70 people are expected to fill the Bradley Hall ballroom, where local musician Gary Hunt will play jazz music, and local artist Bob Hunt (no relation) will do a painting demonstration.
Guests will be encouraged to continue bidding on auction items throughout the night, competing with bidders from around the country.
Hedden hopes this year’s auction raises at least twice as much as the $3,000 raised through the auction last year, but she has high hopes of raising even more.
Every penny raised goes to the Hancock County Arts, she said, since sponsors have already covered the cost of the gala.
The arts council is in a growing phase, she said, and members are relishing the opportunity to spread awareness and support for the arts throughout the county and beyond.
They’re also expanding their focus to include more than just visual arts, by celebrating other art forms like music and literature as well.
Artist Abby Apodaca first connected with the arts council when she donated a painting of a dragonfly called “Transformation” for last year’s online auction. She instantly clicked with the group, and now serves as its vice president.
“What’s interesting is that the piece transformed our lives into joining the Hancock County Arts and helping it grow,” said Apodaca, whose husband and son also volunteer their time and talents to the organization.
“Through events like the Diamonds and Denim Gala and online auction… we hope to reach more and more of the wonderful people of Hancock County and show our support and service to all the arts,” she said.
Hedden said a number of people stopped in the gallery during last week’s Riley Festival to look at the current exhibit of works by local artists, and to learn more about what the council has in store for the coming year.
“We’re talking up what we’re doing and I think interest is growing,” said Hedden. “We get new memberships every month.”
Next weekend, the council will host two literary events at the Twenty North Gallery in Greenfield — a children’s read-aloud and a poetry cafe.
From 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 23, children and their parents are invited to hear books read aloud by arts council volunteers.
Then, from 1-4 p.m. that day, the arts council will host a Words Out Poetry Cafe.
“We’ve got 15 poets from across Indiana including writers, poets, essayists and publishers, and they’re going to come together to read some of their poetry,” said Hedden.
Local coffee roaster Scattered Beans will do a presentation and tasting from 2-3 p.m.
For more information on these events or the Diamonds & Denim gala, visit hancockcountyarts.com or follow Hancock County Arts on Facebook.
Tickets to the gala are $20 per person, or $10 for Hancock County Arts members, and must be purchased by noon Oct. 16.
To buy tickets or view and bid on auction items, visit BforG.com/HancockCountyArts.
