The biennial Silver Eye Center for Photography Benefit Auction and Brunch will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 29 at Clear Story Studio, 1931 Sidney St., South Side. At 6:30 p.m. today a gallery talk will be given at the center, 1015 E. Carson St., South Side, where visitors may view works to be auctioned through April 25.
Tonight's talk, "The Pleasures of Collecting Photography," will be conducted by Ellen Fleurov, Silver Eye executive director, and Brian Lang, curator, Corporate Art Collection, BNY Mellon. (Free but RSVP at 412-431-1810.) Various photographs will be highlighted, and many of the local artists who contributed to the auction will be present.
Among the works by more than 40 artists are vintage and contemporary prints by Walker Evans, Charles "Teenie" Harris, Carrie Schneider, Scott Conarroe, Duane Michals, Ed Panar, Fran Forman, Henry J. Simonds, Akihiko Miyoshi, Rebecca Sittler, Paul Caponigro, Daniel Kramer, Aaron Siskind, Abelardo Morell, Edward Steichen, Luke Swank, Bernice Abbott, Harold Edgerton and Dylan Vitone.
The 2012 auction honors the life and legacy of Aaronel deRoy Gruber (1918-2011), and two of her photographs are included in the catalog.
For the first time a silent auction will offer items such as travel packages, and theater and sporting events tickets. Bidding will be conducted online through April 26.
The Live Auction and Brunch will feature food by chef Bob Sendall of All in Good Taste Productions, wines from Engine House No. 25 and signature cocktails from Boyd & Blair Vodka. Sara Friedlander, a specialist in Post-War and Contemporary Art at Christie's, will be the auctioneer. Tickets, $75, may be ordered online or by calling the center.
Silver Eye is open from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is free. Information: 412-431-1810 or www.silvereye.org.
First Published: April 18, 2012, 8:00 a.m.
