Land Conservancy Art Auction

Caroline King
MSM Class of 2015

(3/29) On Sunday, April 26, the Blue Parrot Bistro in Gettysburg will host the Land Conservancy of Adams County’s 18th annual Art Auction, featuring a wide variety of original artwork created by local and regional artists—everything from painting and drawing to ceramics and other three-dimensional work.

New this year, the event will feature both live and silent auctions, and in addition to original two-dimensional art, the auction will include high-quality collectible Americana, such as fraktur, stoneware, redware, ironware, baskets, quilts, and more.

"For the past 17 years, the Land Conservancy’s art auction has been one of our most exciting and highly anticipated social events of the year," said Land Conservancy President Norma Calhoun. "Our volunteers have always made it such a fun, festive event. Every year the bidding is lively and good-natured, the refreshments are great, and there is a strong sense of community and conviviality in the room because we’re all there to support the Land Conservancy."

Over the years the Art Auction has become one of the most significant fundraisers for the Land Conservancy, which works to preserve the rural character of Adams County by partnering with landowners to create conservation easements preserving land from unplanned development. Since its founding in 1995, the Land Conservancy has worked with county landowners to preserve more than 9,300 acres of rural Adams County land.

The Blue Parrot Bistro, located at 35 Chambersburg Street, Gettysburg, has long hosted the Land Conservancy’s auction event. Auctioneer Randy Hilker will again present the artwork for auction. There will also be door prizes, raffles, and more.

Doors for the auction will open at noon, with bidding beginning at 1 p.m. Admission to the event is $15, and all proceeds will benefit Land Conservancy programming.

Donated art will be on display at the Blue Parrot Bistro throughout the month of April. The Blue Parrot will also host a First Friday Artists’ Reception from 4-6 p.m., Friday, April 3, showcasing the artists who donated work to the auction.

"We’re so grateful to the artists and donors who have supported the auction every year with beautiful donations, and of course we look forward to seeing what they will offer this year," said Calhoun.

The Land Conservancy of Adams County is an accredited nonprofit land trust dedicated to preserving the rural lands and character of Adams County. For more information about the Land Conservancy or its upcoming art auction, visit lcacnet.org.