(NEWARK, NJ) -- "Gather your rosebuds while ye may" because art is in full bloom at Gallery Aferro's 20th Anniversary Benefit Art Auction & Party. Celebrate two decades of ingenuity and advocacy in the home of fearless artistry on Saturday, May 20th from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. This year's theme – Bloom! – invites art lovers to don their most blossomy apparel as they live it up to great music, food, cocktails and prizes for a glorious cause.
To mark this milestone, this year’s fete will honor Aferro’s budding genesis and conscience evolution while helping to usher in a vibrant and flourishing future. Guests can expect to enjoy an evening of fun and frivolity as they bid in this season’s uniquely curated silent auction, while nibbling on delectable eats, sipping on sensational spirits and grooving to vinyl virtuoso DJ Kortez.
Back by popular demand, the jubilation will also feature the second annual Aferro Hat Contest, inviting guests to dare to impress with their very best flower-themed chapeau. Esteemed judges will determine which stylish headpiece goes home with the $350 cash prize and bragging rights. When not bidding on art, attendees can revel in the celebratory cake and Nasto’s ice cream, strike a pose with the botanical selfie wall, and vie for the top prize in a History of Aferro-themed trivia contest.
The annual fundraiser is vital in maintaining popular programming, like artist talks, educational outreach, community workshops, legacy work for women and LGBTQ+ elders, and year-round exhibitions featuring visual, literary and sound artists. But more notably, it also helps Aferro cut a new path to innovative projects and opportunities on the horizon, such as an in-house artwork printing co-op, more inclusive internship and fellowship programs, more resources for new artist commissions and paid engagements, and the continual development of Aferro’s role in spotlighting Newark as an arts education hub.
Returning this year, bidding-by-proxy and bidding-by-phone will allow art enthusiasts to continue to participate in the festivities even when they are unable to attend in-person. But for those who wouldn’t dare miss this special evening, be prepared to drape yourself in your most luscious attire and make your way to the verdant art-covered walls of Gallery Aferro for cake, cocktails and contests as the celebration of Newark’s oldest artist-run alternative arts space promises you a night you will never forget.
Tickets are available for $35 in advance or $40 at the door. Special VIP tickets with early access to artwork for sale and a VIP happy hour are also available for $125 in advance or $150 at the door.
Gallery Aferro is located at 73 Market Street in Newark, New Jersey. Gallery Aferro is a platform for the exchange of ideas in service of advancing human dignity and beauty, with a focus on visual arts as the vehicle. Founded in 2003, it is home to two major public exhibition spaces in a 20,000 sq. ft. building, offering exhibitions, events, and a studio residency program available all year-round.
