Warner Robins fundraiser a successful combination of food, music and art

More than 100 people braved the rain for an evening of food, music and art at the 99 Bottles of Art on the Wall fundraiser Friday night at The Painted Door Art Gallery in Warner Robins.

The evening concluded with more than half of the bottles of art sold, raising more than $1,200, according to Jodi Daley, co-founder of Land to Hand Inc.

Ninety-nine pieces of 5x7 art painted in acrylics, oils, inks, watercolors and mixed mediums were donated by 50 primarily local artists, according to Diane McClarnon, local artist and owner of The Painted Door Art Gallery. The art depicted a variety of styles, scenes, and subjects and were displayed on the wine bottles.

Food and drink were available to the attendees as they milled around artwork, discussing the art scenery and the possible locations they might depict. Others looked for pieces of art by specific artists while Kofi-AH of Macon provided music with his saxophone.

The event was a fundraiser for Land to Hand, which manages the Warner Robins and Perry farmers markets, and Localicious, a local food festival that celebrates local food producers and local growers, according to Daley. The bottles of art were sold for $30 each or two for $50. Raffle tickets, entered into a drawing for a Manami Lingerfelt framed piece of artwork valued at $500, were also given with each bottle of art purchased.

McClarnon donated the gallery space as well as four art pieces to be displayed on the wine bottles. She has helped solicit the art donations for all three years the event has been held.

“It’s a great opportunity for artists to give back to the community,” she explained.

During the past two years, McClarnon said she has always received more than the 99 pieces of art needed for the event, so this year, she did not solicit as many and was able to bring out some of the artwork from previous years as well as the newly submitted pieces.

“Next year, we will have a jury competition deciding which pieces will make it on a bottle,” she said.

Allan Carey, a local artist in Warner Robins who teaches art classes in oils and acrylics to beginners, donated two pieces of art, one of which was titled “The Lady Bug.” She said she was inspired by the many ladybugs that were around her home and thought it was a cute idea.

“They’ve really got some beautiful artwork on the bottles,” she said. “I think it’s good to help your community and generate funds.”

Lee and Larry Kowbel from Seattle were visiting a relative, Lynn Morley, one of the artists who donated art to the fundraiser. Lee Kowbel said she just wanted to stop in to see the artwork and ended up purchasing two bottles of art – one of Morley’s donations and another bottle of art for a friend.

Annette Rissmiller of Warner Robins said her neighbor, artist Ava Blazi, who donated two pieces of art, told her about the event. Rissmiller ended up purchasing a piece of art by Michael Slivka.

“It’s very nice… I’m really impressed with all the local talent and the artwork,” said Rissmiller, adding that she loves artwork and frequently visits Ocmulgee Arts in Macon.

Bottles of art that were not purchased at the fundraiser were taken to Localicious, a food festival sponsored by Land to Hand, and were available for sale throughout the four-hour event Saturday, according to Lori Freeman, co-founder of Land to Hand.

This story was originally published April 19, 2016 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Warner Robins fundraiser a successful combination of food, music and art."