Gala opening for Pequot Library's weekend art show

The landmark Pequot Library was the glittering setting Friday night for a gala gathering attending the opening of the library's 15th annual Juried Art Show.

The preview reception, showcasing 180 works of art, drew a crowd of about 200 people who also enjoyed food, drinks, music and auctions to support the Southport library.

"This is so great, a real community show," said Martha Lord, the Pequot Library's new executive director, as she surveyed the room. "And volunteers put on the whole thing."

Along with the volunteers, art galleries like Southport Galleries and Troy Fine Art, as well as more than a dozen area businesses, provided support and donated auction items.

Two auctions were conducted during the evening -- a silent auction featuring clothing accessories, dinner certificates and gift baskets, and a live auction offering artwork or art-related experiences.

The reception is one of the library's major fundraisers, with half of the proceeds going to support the private institution's operating budget and half to the contributing artists themselves.

More than 350 pieces of art were initially submitted for consideration in the exhibition, which was on view Saturday and Sunday. The submissions were pared down by the show's three jurors Helen Klisser During, Philip Eliasoph and Robert C. Jackson.

Adding to Lord's comments, Bill Russell, the president of the library board, said, "This event draws on one of the pillars of the library, which is fine arts, which we will focus on with programming all weekend."

For more information, check: http://www.pequotlibrary.org