Residents bid on local artwork in Othello

OTHELLO - Shadowboxes sat next to teddy bears. Cookbooks shared tables with candles.

All of them had a piece of paper with people's bids written in pencil at the 30th Annual Benefit Auction for the Arts in Othello on Saturday.

The event is the main fund-raiser for the Old Hotel Art Gallery in Othello. The organization raised about $16,000 last year, said Director Sally Laufer. She expected about 200 people to come to the event.

All of the items were local, including the artwork and six bottles of wine from the private collection of Frenchman Hills Winery in Othello.

John Lackie serves samples of beer and wine. He said all of the money helps bring art to the community with programs such as sponsoring art classes for children and art shows in the gallery.

"(The event) is the only show in town," Lackie said. "It's all about art in the community. It promotes local artists."

This was Lackie's fourth year volunteering at the event. He didn't know whether he was going to bid on anything, he said.

"(My wife) checks everything out and tells me what I can bid on," he said.

Bill Sagvold has been coming to the event for 10 years. He said he makes the trip from Spokane to visit his daughter, who lives in Othello, and likes to support the community.

"My daughter's got an exchange student from Norway living with her right now," he said. "So we're going to bid on one of those shirts with the local (emblem) on it."

Dianna Booth walked around the crowd selling beaded necklaces for a raffle. The raffle is organized based on coin flips. She said the last year's winner received $300. Booth joined the board of the galleries four years ago.

"It's always a different group (at the event,)" she said. "I haven't sold that many (beads), but the evening is still early."