By Daryl Goldman
There were many challenges this past spring, but while sheltering in place, I found some unexpected joy: the silencing of the traffic allowed me, despite a hearing deficit, to awaken to an overwhelming dawn chorus outside my urban window.
Another joy: my work on the GGAS Bird Art Auction we held in May. It was so much fun to search for and discover artists who love birds and incorporate birds into their art! I loved talking to the artists, and learning about them, and the challenges the pandemic has posed for them. Working as part of a team with the other auction volunteers, and our members’ enthusiasm for the art was so gratifying. We raised over $20,000 through the auction to benefit Golden Gate Audubon and the 22 artists who shared their work with us.
This fall, GGAS would like to once again combine fundraising for all Eco-Education and habitat restoration programs with shopping for beautiful bird-themed art. You can do your holiday shopping from the comfort and safety of your home, and support GGAS and these wonderful artists at the same time. As with our online auction, we will split the proceeds 50/50 between artists and GGAS.
This Holiday Art and Gift Sale will be a fixed-price online sale with multiples of most of the items; that way more people can shop and find gifts to give for the winter holidays and not worry about competing against others in an auction.
I have to admit I felt a little bit of a let-down after the auction ended. It was a rush to monitor the auction and watch our members bid so generously. Once I started the search for new artists for this fixed-price online sale, I felt a sense of purpose and excitement return.
We will have 11 new artists and 6 returning artists, and a much wider range of art mediums. Here’s an overview of some items for sale: giclee art prints; ceramic bowls, vases, canisters, and cups; decorative art tiles; hand sewn messenger bags; tote bags; potholders, tea towels, scarves and pillows; bird-friendly single source chocolate; prints on wood blocks; wallets, pins, coasters, and magnets; bird sculptures; needled felted bird figures and ornaments; toddler’s clothing; and cards and calendars! Each item will all have a bird on it.
Below are some of the beautiful pieces available for this sale.
My job, for the past few Birdathons, has been to find prizes for our highest fundraisers. (You may be noticing a pattern here: I like going on treasure hunts and asking people to donate things.) We weren’t able to award these prizes this year, so we would like to list these prizes at the sale, in order to raise more funds for GGAS and give credit to the people who made such generous donations to our organization. Here’s two of them:
Excited yet? We are! Please mark your calendars for October 18 to November 1, get your gift list ready and look forward to a little retail therapy. You’ll be able to find our holiday sale on the front page of our website at www.goldengateaudubon.org. Thank you so much for your support of artists and of GGAS!
About Daryl: Daryl is a GGAS member and the lead volunteer on the Bird Art and Holiday Sale. A retired psychologist of over 33 years, Daryl shifted her focus to creating art and birding. Daryl was also one of GGAS’s featured artists in spring’s online auction. GGAS is extremely grateful to Daryl for her hard work in helping to organize this online holiday sale.