The 1st Annual Connie O'Donnell Student ART Invitational, named for the late wife of trustee emeritus and former BCM board chairman Tom O'Donnell, will offer talented local high school students the opportunity to showcase their work at
fresh
ART.
The student art will be displayed at the museum as part of the
silent
ART exhibit, which opens with a free public reception from 5 to 7 p.m., on Saturday, August 31. Unlike the
silent
ART pieces, which will be sold at a silent auction, the student art will not be available for sale. However, the works will be judged by a panel of art experts, with one winner receiving a $50 prize and $500 going to the art department at the winner's school. The exhibit continues through the
fresh
ART gala and auction on September 14.
According to Tom O'Donnell, Connie O'Donnell was a self-taught artist who specialized in sketches, drawings and cartoons, many of which depicted milestones in the lives of her family and friends. She loved to mentor young artists, including their three sons, Tod, Sean and Patrick. "She was very conscious of bringing new artists along and often paid class visits for specials days at school," he said.
When his wife died at age 71 in January, many of their friends wanted to create a fund in her name, O'Donnell said. "We didn't see anything around that supported art at the high school level, so we decided to start there." Art teachers at seven local schools were approached and asked to submit drawings by sophomore, junior or senior students. "What we hope is, as we build, the fund can be broadened to include all of the high schools in the area," he said.
"This event is a testament to Connie's legacy and a way of supporting the art she loved for future generations."
To donate to the Student ART Invitational, send your check payable to the Connie O'Donnell Fund, c/o Behringer-Crawford Museum, 1600 Montague Rd., Covington, KY 41011. For more information, call (859) 491-4003 or email
info@bcmuseum.org
.
The 27th annual
fresh
ART gala and auction will take place in the BCM amphitheater at 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 14, with a live auction of "fresh" art created by dozens of artists working that weekend in Devou Park. Tickets to
fresh
ART are $80. To reserve or for more information, call 859-491-4003 or email
info@bcmuseum.org
.
fresh
ART2019 sponsors to date include:
Silver Palette Sponsors:
Bellevue Family Dentistry, Joann Brown, Covington Independent Public Schools, Mrs. Ruth Faragher & Family, Milburn Family Foundation, Schneller & Knochelmann Plumbing, Heating & Air and Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP.
Table Sponsors:
City of Covington, Designs Direct, LLC, Pamela & Ken Marcum, U.S. Bank Private Wealth Management, and Gerry & Anthony Zembrodt.
Artists Awards Sponsor:
Patricia & William Applegarth Artists Excellence Award.
Supporters:
Kathy & Leo Calderon, Sue & Don Corken, Earl Franks Sons & Daughters, Jackson Interiors, Kate & Mark Neikirk, O'Donnell Group, Pendery Insurance.
Since
fresh
ART began in 1992, more than a half million dollars has been raised, bringing educational and cultural activities to 275,000 Northern Kentucky children.
Behringer-Crawford Museum is supported in part by our members, the City of Covington, Kenton County Fiscal Court, ArtsWave, Kentucky Arts Council, the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame and The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. US Bank Foundation.
