Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum Art Auction Raises Funds for Museum
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Bidders and spectators gathered in the Duesenberg Building on the Kruse International auction park grounds to enjoy a wine-and-cheese reception before the sale. Kruse generously donated auction services, refreshments and use of the building for the sale.
Dean and Daniel coaxed a top bid of $3,500 for "To Infinity and Beyond," an acrylic painting depicting a set of colorful taillights from a 1959 Cadillac by artist David Chapple. The painting is a close-up, intimate view of the taillights with many bright colors reflecting within the lights and surrounding surface.
Other top-selling works were "Cheshire Cat in Cuba" by Jack Pennington for $3,000 and "Duesenberg" by Michael Goettner for $2,300.
Pennington's work visualized what it may have been like if a 1957 Jaguar XK55 had driven in the Grand Prix of Cuba in 1959. The piece was created using acrylic and later finished in mixed media. This was Pennington's first time exhibiting in Auburn.
Goettner's original watercolor featured a realistic image of a Duesenberg hood ornament from a Duesenberg Murphy Speedster.
Every piece of art offered during the fourth annual event sold and brought enjoyment to those taking home some of the top pieces of automotive art available.
Tom Hale coordinated this year's invitational art show for the museum as he has in the past. Tom was inducted into the museum's Hall of Fame in May, 2005.
The art auction was the culmination of a four-day show and sale by fourteen artists during the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival and Kruse Collector Car Auction. The show and sale took place in a white tent in a prime location beside the Duesenberg building and near the main auction building.
Three $1,000 cash prizes, donated by Dean Kruse, went to artists David Chapple, Jack Pennington and Dav3 Kurz in the juried show. Judges were Nina Bennett, artist and owner of Expressions Gallery in Auburn, and Charles Sheperd III, executive director of the Fort Wayne Museum of Art.
Artist Michael Goettner's work earned him the Museums' Choice Award at the show. As his prize, he will exhibit his work in a one-person show in early 2007 for one month each at the World War II Victory Museum-Kruse Automotive & Carriage Museum and at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum.
The not-for-profit Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum is located in the restored 1930 art deco administrative building of the former Auburn Automobile Company. The museum displays 120 classic, antique, vintage and special interest cars in eight galleries. It is accredited by the American Association of Museums and designated as a National Historic Landmark. The museum is open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
(Editor's note - Dav3 Kurz name is spelled with a "3" at the end and not an "e")
(Michael Goettner is the winner of the Fourth Annual Museum's Choice Award. His work will be exhibited in a one-person show in early 2007 for one month each at the World War II Victory Museum-Kruse Automotive & Carriage Museum and at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum.)
