Aroma of Art is a silent auction sponsored by Taste Full Beans Coffeehouse (TFB). ALL proceeds benefit three nonprofits, Council on Adolescents of Catawba County, Women's Resource Center, and the Hickory Soup Kitchen.

Visit TFB's New Websites!
www.tastefullbeans.com
www.tastefullbeansatthelibrary.com
Call the coffeehouse for more info: 828-855-7688

To become a sponsor of Aroma of Art, please click here to download the sponsorship form.

To become a donating artist, please click here to download the Call for Art brochure.

2/27/09

Come Bid on All the Jewelry!




There has been such an outpouring from jewelry artists this year for the Aroma of Art auction at Taste Full Beans! Local jewelry artists and some from Asheville, Greensboro and Charlotte have donated their work.

The photos you see in this post are pieces by Mary Alexander of Magpie's Treasures and are on display and for bid at the auction.

There is still time to place your bids! Make a visit to Taste Full Beans to get your bid number. The final bidding will end at 6:30 pm tomorrow evening, February 28. We hope to see you at the finale!

2/25/09

Aroma of Art Finale - Join us at Taste Full Beans for the Auction!

The Aroma of Art silent art auction comes to an end on Saturday night, February 28 beginning at 5:00 PM. Proceeds benefit three nonprofit groups, ALFA, Humane Society of Catawba County, and the Women's Resource Center. Taste Full Beans in downtown Hickory is hosting Aroma of Art, and the public is welcome to come and bid on the beautiful fine artwork, pottery, jewelry, photographs and woven pieces. All you need to do is to come into Taste Full Beans and get a bid number. The photographs shown here, titled "Trees", "Cheers!" and "Straws", are by Cindy and Sam Tallman and are part of the Aroma of Art auction.

Each of the three groups receiving funds from AOA support a variety of needs in Western North Carolina that directly benefit the people in our community. You can show your support for all non-profits by attending the AOA finale and taking home some beautiful artwork.

Lisa Miller, Executive Director of the Women's Resource Center says, "Proceeds from AOA will directly support local women going through difficult transitions - including unemployment, divorce, illness, and mental health issues. In 2008, WRC staff and trained volunteers responded one-on-one to 716 requests for help. These requests came from Catawba, Burke, Caldwell, and Alexander counties. Community donations can help an unemployed woman receive professional clothing, laundry detergent to wash clothes, and a $10 gas card to help her get to her interview and back home."

Executive Director of ALFA, Jennifer A. Hart, tells us, "Funds raised from Aroma of Art will be used to support the ongoing mission of ALFA, specifically to provide life-saving services to people living with HIV/AIDS, and to provide free and confidential HIV counseling and testing services to an eight county service area. Funds can provide co-pays for expensive medications and treatments or support ALFA's food and hygiene pantry. Funds will also be utilized to purchase UniGold HIV antibody tests. With just a prick of the finger, results can be read in just ten minutes. We thank Taste Full Beans Coffeehouse for recognizing the critical need for HIV/AIDS awareness and compassionate support in our community!"

"With the funds raised through Aroma of Art, Humane Society of Catawba County will be able to rescue 15 or more homeless animals. We will be able to spay/neuter, perform a complete medical exam with tests, give vaccinations, provide shelter and feed and groom these animals while we work towards finding them a Forever Home," says Jane Earnest, Executive Director of HSCC.

The finale begins at 5:00 PM with hors d'oeuvres, wine and coffee provided. Bidding ends at 6:30 PM with check-out following immediately.

If you don't already have a bid number, there's still time to get one at Taste Full Beans. Taste Full Beans is located in downtown Hickory at 29 2nd Street, NW, Hickory, NC 28601. Form more information, call 828-325-0108.

2/24/09

Cry of the Wolf


This is another fine offering from our friends at Wolf Song Studio. This painting by Sandi Baker is titled "Nala" . I am a big fan of both Sandi and JW Baker's work and have one of Sandi's paintings hanging in my home.

Their talents combine with paint and canvas to create images of nature that are truly extraordinary. This image of Nala looks like she will step right out of the painting!

Treat yourself to a visit to Tastefull Beans for good food and drink, and the experience of seeing the Baker's work along with all of the other wonderful artists on display.

Remember, everything is being auctioned off for charity and the bidding will end at the finale on Saturday, February 28th at 6:30 PM. The evening starts at 5:00 PM and will feature finger food, wine and other beverages and lots of good conversation. Hope to see all of you there!

2/22/09

The Bright Glow of Silver

Here are two more beautiful offerings from one of our artists....Earrings and Necklace of Opalite by Jessi Eurich. See her link under AOA Artists Online. You can see these and other wonderful auction items at Tastefull Beans in Hickory.

This painting on auction is by one of Tastefull Beans long time favorite artists, Derfla.

The title of this painting is "Uncle Lego" and is on display and up for bidding at Tastefull Beans Coffee House through Saturday, Feb 28th when the bidding will end at 6:30 PM.

We hope to see you at the finale which starts at 5:00 PM.

2/21/09

Of Earth and Fire...




Pottery is a time honored traditional art form here in North Carolina. From the kiln openings around Western NC to the many galleries across the state, you will find generations of potters showing their skill and artistry, from the functional to the purely decorative.

The Aroma of Art auction is no exception. We have several examples of gorgeous pottery for you to bid on. This piece was made by David Bellar and is just one of the fine pieces donated to the auction. Come see the variety and skill of local craftsman and bid on a piece or two - its all for good causes and will give you a piece of NC history to boot. The auction will go on until the Saturday, February 28th, so be sure to get into Tastefull Beans Coffee House to see all that is on display and to place your bid!

2/20/09

Jewelry and more Jewelry!



We have so much wonderful jewelry up for auction this year! Its a great time to come in to Tastefull Beans to see the enormous talent in the local and outlying areas of Hickory. We have had local artists donate items, and we have also had several artists from the Asheville, Hendersonville and Charlotte areas offer their work for the auction.

For the jewelry lover and wearer in your life, this is a great time to come and bid on a wide variety of styles. All one of a kind, all hand made by North Carolina jewelers. Stop by the blog everyday for more featured artists donations.

The pieces in the photos here are by PJ Yang.

2/19/09


Aroma of Art

by Scott Owens

Heady scent of coffee beans

and paint, curve of potter’s wheel,

smooth finish, stained glass,

filigreed jewelry, playful stones,

lacework of fuzzy scarves,

blab of poems, sensual photos

of lily, rose, and orchid,

perfect harmony of “Guinivere,”

murmur of lovers whispering

soft seduction, art,

music, people coming together

in an ekphrastic moment of poetry.

Painting by JW Baker, titled "Grey Days", donation to the Aroma of Art auction.

2/17/09

Calling all art photography lovers ...

This is one of the beautiful items donated to the Aroma of Art auction. This photograph titled "Azalea Grandeur" is donated by Janice Setzler. The bidding on this item and all the items for the auction will go on through the end of February.

There is much more to see at the Tastefull Beans Aroma of Art auction so make a trip in soon to look and place a bid!

2/16/09

Ekphrastic Poetry Reading


Ekphrastic Poetry
Originally uploaded by wrchickorync
February 26, 2009
6 to 8 PM, Taste Full Beans Coffeehouse in Downtown Hickory

This event features writings inspired by the art donations and is complementary to the month long silent auction.

2/13/09

Mark Your Calendar for the Finale


2008 Finale
Originally uploaded by wrchickorync
L&L Catering will be providing a wonderful array of food for the finale Sat. Feb. 28. Bidding officially ends at 6:30 pm so make sure to get your bids in before it's too late.

2/9/09

Aroma of Art Ekphrastic Poetry Event

Inspired by the donations? You are invited to submit writings connected to the donated art in the AOA auction. Local poets are invited to write poems inspired by the art and submit them for inclusion in the exhibit.

A panel of judges will select 20-25 pieces to be displayed next to the artwork. The authors of these works will be invited to participate in a reading at Taste Full Beans on February 26, from 6-8. Some selected poems will also be featured in "Musings".

Poems should include the author's name and the title of the artwork the poem is based on. Submit by February 17 to asowens1@yahoo.com or at Taste Full Beans.

Molli Koltun donation - heart pendant


Molli Koltun 1
Originally uploaded by wrchickorync

Molli Koltun jewelry donation


Molli Koltun 2
Originally uploaded by wrchickorync

2/4/09

110 Items and Counting


Over 50 people signed up for bid numbers at the AOA kick off and over $1,500 worth of bids were placed by the evening's end. Items continue to come in including photography, various jewelry pieces, pottery, and hand made trays.

If you don't already have a bid number, make a point to stop by the coffeeshop to sign up. It's easy to do and only takes about five minutes. Keep checking out the blog as we update you on new items up for bid!

Photo: ALFA Director Jennifer Hart Dockey, HSCC Director Jane Earnest, and HSCC Community Outreach Manager George Page enjoying the kick-off