Work by Tad van der Weele

Silent Auction Benefit for the Mimbres Region Arts Council

Date: Friday, April 22, 2011
Place: What’s a Pot Shop on Yankie Street
Time: 5:30-7pm (hors d'oeuvres will be served)

There will be approximately 10-12 auction items. All items will have a minimum bid with increments of $50.

At 7:25pm the the winning bid for each piece will be announced. Cash, check or credit cards will be accepted that evening.

At 7:40pm at the VIP Salon, 602 W Market St., there will be a viewing of Tad’s piece: "What’s the Point?"

Patrick Conlin and Tad van der Weele moved to Silver City in 1999 so Tad could be a full time artist. They were drawn here by the active arts council and arts community. One of the first things they participated in was our own Chocolate Fantasia, and they got such a kick out of it — had a great time and met lots of fun people.

Patrick served on the MRAC board of directors and Tad routinely participated as a site during the MRAC Weekend at the Galleries event. Patrick's business, Prudential Silver City Properties, has been a long time sponsor of the MRAC Youth Mural Program.

Tad was known for contemporary and abstract artwork in all mediums. After he passed, Patrick was looking for a way to recognize him and at the same time do something good. As a supporter of MRAC, it just seemed natural to donate the work for the benefit of MRAC programs.

Harry Benjamin approached him about hosting the sale in his space, the What's a Pot Shop on Yankie Street. As a big fan of Tad's (they collected each other's work) Harry was also looking for way to recognize him.

Tad's last piece, called "What's the Point?", is still up in his former studio space at 602 W. Market St., now occupied by Raymond Lewis and the VIP Salon. That space will be open after the auction for an informal viewing of the piece and a relaxed time for reminiscing about Tad.