Arts both old and new were celebrated at the second annual Vintage for the Arts cocktail party on March 30. Hosted by the Vintage Arts boutique in Mandarin, the event aimed to raise funds for the Mandarin Arts Festival, now in its 51st year.
Guests were invited to participate in a silent auction that featured local businesses and artists including Wood You Furniture, Stonewood Grill & Tavern, art by Julie Fetzer and a photoshoot with photographer Teresa Sacks. The event ultimately raised $3,500 for the festival, which will be held Easter weekend on April 20-21.
“There are lots of artists and a lot of people that want to participate in the Mandarin Art Festival,” said Holly Donohoe, owner of the Vintage Arts boutique. “(It is) the preeminent art event in the community. We want to draw attention to the fact that the (arts) need to be celebrated not only at the festival, but in a bigger picture as well.”
Donohoe, along with her husband, Jan Lindahl, are not only owners of the creatively curated boutique, but are artists themselves. Donohoe with paint and canvas and Lindahl with industrial salvage. Lindahl’s work can be found doting the interior of the store, which is brimming with an assortment of curious antique novelties coupled with modern accessories.
“My husband and I have put together a really curated collection of purposefully selected items,” Donohoe said. “Each piece speaks to an aesthetic or feeling that we are trying to create. We select from vintage items that need restoration or they are just beautiful works of art in and of themselves.”
In addition to the silent auction, the event included live music, beer, wine and small plates. Both the food and drinks were donated in support of the Mandarin Arts Festival by Champion Brands, Whole Foods, Native Sun and Earth Fare. Although many businesses participated in elevating the event, most guests saw the party as an opportunity to support the festival and meet other residents interested in arts.
“When the arts are really rooted in a community, such as they are with the Mandarin Arts Festival, they really speak about the story of the community and the resilience of the people that live in that community,” Donohoe said. “(The arts) are really a lightning rod for bringing people together.”
