The Newport Art Museum‘s beloved art making event and fundraiser,Wet Paint presented by AR Capital, wrapped up on Sunday, August 16 raising a grand total of $125,000 for the Museum’s exhibitions, outreach, education and historic preservation efforts and setting a new record for the event. 400 artists of all backgrounds, skill levels and ages made art on Saturday, donating 534 pieces for sale in silent and live auctions.
Bidding began with a silent auction during the Wet Paint Preview Party on Saturday night and continued Sunday. The silent auction raised $56,500. Wet Paint culminated in its live auction Sunday afternoon, with auctioneer Marie Keep of Skinner, Inc. selling 32 pieces, which raised an additional $42,400. Combined, the silent and live auctions raised $98,900 for the Museum. An additional $26,100 was raised from sponsorships, Preview Party admission, the cash bar, sales of snacks and other refreshments, and additional donations made over the weekend.
Wet Paint 2015 was held in honor of Dick Grosvenor, the event’s co-founder. During the live auction, Curator Nancy Whipple Grinnell spoke about Grosvenor and his importance to the Museum and Newport’s artistic community. “Richard Grosvenor is respected and loved by many. No where is he held in more esteem than at the Newport Art Museum.” Grinnell went on to cover Grosvenor’s numerous contributions from the first time he exhibited work at the Museum in 1946, to his tenor as President of the Board of Trustees, 1980-1990, and his position as chairman of the first ever Wet Paint in 1994. When she was finished Grosvenor received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Wet Paint 2015 was presented by AR Capital, with additional support generously provided by Joseph A. Chazan, M.D., Skinner, Inc., D.F. Dwyer Insurance, Juliette Clagett McLennan, Pamela M. Chapman, Sandra & Grenville Craig, R. Brooke Roberts, Egg & Dart, BB Farmaceuticals, Inc., Island Carpet & Floor Covering, LLC., Jessica Hagen Fine Art + Design, Turner C. Scott and Kathleen Pratt, and Newport Harbor Corporation. In-kind contributors include A-Market, The Attwater, Bagel Boys, Broken Arrow illustration [& design], Custom House Coffee, Empire Tea & Coffee, Fatulli’s Theatre Company, Russell Morin Catering & Events.