BRATTLEBORO — When painter Jim Giddings lost his studio and a lifetime of work to fire on Aug. 29, it sent a ripple of sympathy through the arts community of southern Vermont.
Now that ripple has grown into a wave of support, as his fellow artists are lining up to donate their work for a benefit auction to help him rebuild and get back to painting.
More than 60 of the area's most renowned artists and collectors have pledged artwork, according to a news release. Donations include a diverse collection including paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, pottery, textiles, jewelry, photography, and mixed media.
“The response is almost overwhelming. I'm really thankful to all the people who are doing the work to put this together,” said Giddings, who was hard at work with his wife, Petria Mitchell, to prepare for an opening at the Mitchell-Giddings Fine Arts Gallery they co-own in Brattleboro. “It's an amazing community of artists and broader community of people.”
Giddings and Mitchell will donate unspecified pieces of their own work for the auction, and Mitchell is creating intriguing pieces from remnants of Giddings's works that were charred in the fire.
On Thursday, Sept. 29, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., at 118 Elliot St. in Brattleboro, art lovers will have a chance to buy the pieces by world-class artists in silent as well as live auctions, with most bids starting well below retail prices.
The evening will begin with refreshments, music by the guitar duo Moon Dogs, and bidding on items in the silent auction. At 7 p.m., auctioneer Stewart McDermet will lead a live auction of more artwork.