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Arts & Entertainment

How Stone Mountain Leprechauns Help Fund ART Station

ART Station had a big turnout for its annual Raising of the Green fundraiser.

An estimated 600 people turned out to this year's Annual St. Patrick's Day "Raising of the Green" event at ART Station.Β 

With funds going toward the gallery's ongoing programs, including student scholarships for the summer, the 15th annual celebration had a number of different activities for the evening that helped the arts.

The Raising of the Green began in 1997 when ART Station suffered a terrible loss after the 1996 Olympics. "[Officials] told us that we were going to have 100,000 visitors to this city," said David Thomas, the president of ART Station.

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ART Station was encouraged to prepare for the big crowd, but as it turned out, with the way the Olympic events and directions were set up, visitors completely bypassed the art space altogether.

"We lost hundreds of thousands of dollars," said Thomas. "So we started the event to raise the money for our loss, and it just became a big party. Everybody has a good time, so we keep doing it."

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Like every year, the evening started off with a $1,000 raffle, this year led by Nan Nash, and also a silent auction, with hundreds of items featured in the upstairs gallery. Whisky, bags, jewelry, kids toys and beer signs were just a few of the items up for bid.

While the silent auction was going on, drink and food tables were slammed with takers. Green beer and limeade was served, and the Village's restaurants also had tables serving their best items: The Village Corner, The Rock House, Mountain Soul Cafe and Artisan Restaurant, to name a few.Β 

"We want to blend in with the art direction," said Cary Hamilton, owner of the Village's Artisan Restaurant, which just opened Jan. 1. One of the reasons the restaurant wanted a table at Raising of the Green, he said, is because Artisan plans to have different artists, ranging from painters, sculptors Β and musicians, performing their art during business hours. That idea is what gave the restaurant its name.

The Stone Mountain Woman's Club had some good eats, too, and the group had a bidding item for the live auction: The winning bidder receives a different homemade cake every month for an entire year, including flavors such as chocolate velvet and peanut butter.

The live auction took place after most of the participants had taken a look at the silent auction's items and grabbed a bite to eat. It was led by auctioneer Frank Luton, who became Seamus 'Shameless' onstage, an Irish gentlemen dressed head-to-toe as a leprechaun, complete with green sequined shoes.Β 

"We are raising money for ART Station,"said Luton.Β "Don't just sit there and say, 'Well, that's a lovely thing!'" Luton got the crowd in the bidding spirit, encouraging the audience with jokes and interacting with everyone.Β Luton also had help from two bidding leprechauns, Susan Coletti and Joan Sharpe, adorned in matching green dresses.Β 

The live auction had 15 Β items, including a 32-inch HD television, two $500 round-trip tickets on AirTran Airways, and jewelry, bags and sculptures created by the SMart Incubator artists. Others items were considered "priceless:" a 45-minute performance by Stone Mountain storyteller David Hirt, in whatever venue the winning bidder wishes; and an all-day outing in Stone Mountain City Councilman Richard Mailman's private lake in Newborn.

Aside from the SMart Incubator artists, many of the bidding items were donated from Stone Mountain tenants such as Joan Sharpe and Charles and Nan Nash of the Old Post Office Emporium and the Stone Mountain Rotary Club.

With the lively atmosphere and upbeat mood, everyone seemed to have a great time in helping the arts in the Stone Mountain community.Β 

"ART Station is the crown jewel of Stone Mountain, by far," said Nan Nash, who was also one of the event's sponsors. Β 

"[The people at ART Station] work so hard," said Sharon Henderson, who's a volunteer at ART Station and has also been attending the event for the past eight years. "They do everything and anything to keep this place going. The way they support each other, it's not something you find anymore."

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