The Mad Hatter’s Ball

Friday & Saturday Nights, September 19-20

Blue Heron Art Center

Click here to view the online art gallery for the whole auction...

Join us for this year's Art Auction, The Mad Hatter's Ball: A Whimsical Journey down the Rabbit Hole." Enjoy an evening of food, art and fun at Vashon Island’s biggest art event of the year! Slated for Friday and Saturday, September 19-20, at Blue Heron Art Center, over 100 artists donate original works of art for this annual event from painting, sculpture and photography to furniture, jewelry and more. Enjoy featured performances by Lelavision, roving characters and of course delectable food. This year’s event will be MC’d by KIRO morning radio host, Gregg Hersholt with consummate auctioneer, Matt Smith. Call 206.463.5131 for reservations.

Art Auction is the biggest art party on the island and VAA’s largest fundraiser. “There is a huge variety of artwork donated,” said VAA Executive Director Molly Reed. “Everyone will find something special to take home. Island artists are incredibly generous.” Art Auction is being coordinated this year by Nancy Foster-Moss and chairperson, Susan Sullivan, with participation by VAA Trustees and staff. Special thanks to Art Auction sponsors John L. Scott Real Estate, Puget Sound Energy,Thriftway, U.S. Bank and David Erue and Bobbi Arnold.

Don’t miss the kick off Preview Party and Artist Reception Friday, September 5, featuring “A Taste of Vashon,” delicious hors d’oeuvres donated by Island restaurants, caterers and VAA chefs. If you miss the Preview, there's still plenty of time to see the art. Stop by Blue Heron Gallery during the first two weeks of September and check out all the wonderful art that will be auctioned or visit the on-line gallery (available soon) at www.themadhattersball.org.

Six commissioned artists have created pieces for the Auction. Friday features Jenn Reidel, Photography; Karen Dale, Oil Painting; Jerry Balcom, Pastel. Saturday features Ivonne Escobar de Kommer, Sculpture; Jiji Saunders, Encaustic; John Anderson, Photography.
Click here for more info on the commissioned artists...

Friday’s Auction, a more casual affair, includes a buffet dinner catered by the Hardware Store Restaurant. The evening begins at 6:30 pm with a silent auction, followed by a special Mad Hatter's Ball performance and live auction. Tickets are $45 per person or $25 for contributing artists andSaturday Auction guests.

Saturday night’s auction festivities begin at 5:30 pm and include both silent and live auctions and a sit down dinner (catered by The Hardware Store Restaurant) and a special Mad Hatter's Ball performance. Tickets are $120 per person or $1200 for a table of ten.

Take a chance to win one of the Auction artworks by making sure you purchase plenty of Silver Raffle tickets. They are only $10 each and one lucky winner will be announced each night!