ADVOCACY

A variety of student artworks placed for auction, along with bidding sheets.

Keri Reynolds

During the final year of school, students can easily fall into senioritis mode. To keep them motivated, an annual senior art auction event is held at my high school at the end of the school year. The auction is reserved for senior art students and enables them to sell the work they’ve created over the course of their high-school career.

The auction takes place at the end of May over a three-day period, Tuesday through Thursday, during the school week. Planning usually begins several months beforehand as the dates and location need to be approved by the principal. Flyers for the event are created and students begin the process of selecting and fine-tuning the artworks they want to sell. The day before the event begins, student volunteers and teachers collaborate to transform the school’s library into an auction site. Signage is hung and furniture is rearranged to create a gallery space with a welcoming atmosphere and an easy flow for anticipated foot traffic.

The auction is reserved for senior art students and enables them to sell the work they’ve created over the course of their high-school career.

Once the space is prepared, artwork is arranged and individually numbered. Each piece is presented alongside a bidding sheet with its corresponding number. Students complete the top part of the sheet in advance which includes their name, artwork title, medium, and minimum bid amount requested. The bottom portion of the sheet includes ample space for potential buyers to place their bids. Guideline reminders are strategically posted throughout the library to facilitate the bidding process:

1. Place your email address or phone number next to your bid. This is how you will be contacted if you have the winning bid.
2. Bids begin at the minimum amount.
3. New bids must beat the currently listed bid by $1.00 or more.
4. You may bid on as many pieces as you like.
5. Bidding closes promptly at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday.
6. Pick up and pay for your winning bids on Friday in the art room.

When the auction launches, school staff, students, family, and community members are invited to bid on their favorite pieces. Invitations and flyers are sent, and daily announcements are made on the school website and PA system. Students check in frequently to see what the going prices of their pieces are and to encourage new bids. Art teachers and student volunteers take turns monitoring and assisting bidders as needed. Bidders stake claims on their favorite pieces and increase their bid amounts as the auction draws to a close.

After the auction ends, persons with winning bids are contacted to pick up and pay for their pieces from the art room. Pieces that are not paid for or not bid upon are returned to the student. The money collected goes directly to the senior art students to help them transition and prepare for college. Our auction has become a highly anticipated tradition among seniors that allows them to exhibit and sell their artwork while providing a great opportunity to showcase art within the school and local community.

Keri Reynolds is a secondary art educator and department chair at Elsik High School in Houston, Texas. kereynol@ga.aliefisd.net