Published: November 08, 2009 11:50 pm      

Bizarre Bazaar benefit in Portsmouth

Portsmouth — The Southern Ohio Museum’s Bizarre Bazaar benefit, scheduled for Friday and set against the backdrop of the Kricker Gallery “Sawdust and Spectacle” circus exhibition, promises to be a one-of-a-kind, exotic experience for all who attend.

The fourth biennial Treasure Trove Extravaganza will begin at 6:30 p.m. The evening features art for sale, an antique market and silent auction, handmade crafts, premium wines by the glass sponsored by Dr. George and Sandy White, exotic foods and a cash bar.

James Dalton and Dr. Michael Raies will perform as animal trainer and ring master and museum artists in residence from the Inlet Dance Company of Cleveland and performers from Cirque d’Art Theatre will roam the galleries in unscheduled appearances.

Admission to the festive fundraiser is $35 per person and $50 per patron. Reservations are welcomed by telephoning the museum at 354-5629. Attire for the evening is “party finery.”

Food chairwoman Ann Jewett and her assistants are creating an array of appealing and glamorous appetizers for the party, including sesame beef, butternut squash ravioli, marinated antipasto kabobs, shrimp ceviche, mini crab cakes with remoulade sauce, asiago cheese and asparagus tips wrapped in phyllo. Cheesecake lollipops and cookies will top off the refreshments.

Among the items in either a silent auction or regular auction are folk art by Ronald Cooper, Hazel Kinney and Tim Ratliff from Kentucky and animals handmade by Kay Cloud; marbles by world-famous marble master Mark Matthews; and artwork by Sallie Schrohenloher, Jamie Donaldson and Will Reader which appeared recently in the Museum’s “Let Them Make Cake” exhibit. A Todd Reynolds painting, a Wallace Nutting print, a horse drawing by Reader and a free-form crocheted purse by artist Barbara Rosenberg will join numerous artworks still coming in.

Decorative objects to be auctioned include a pair of Italian sconces, antique Chinese Foo dogs, a porcelain Kaiser Bavarian bluebird, English Boehm “Pink Rose” and “Christmas Rose” pieces, four unusual champagne glasses, a colorful contemporary glass vase, a Waterford hurricane with brass base and a tin-lined copper casserole with brass handles.

Hand-knitted baby items, a four-strand potato pearl necklace choker with 24 karat gold spacers and matching earrings especially created by Morgan’s Jewelry, eight hand-thrown and hand-glazed plates created by an Athens, Ohio potter and a variety of handmade ceramic mugs will offer bazaar shoppers unique selections for holiday gifts or personal use.

By Bazaar time, Dalton will have added many more high quality artistic and antique objects donated by generous community residents for the auction.

The Bizarre Bazaar, scheduled every other year, is one of the Southern Ohio Museum’s most important fundraising efforts.

All proceeds will go to support museum programs and educational activities for Portsmouth and the southern Ohio area.

More information about the Bizarre Bazaar may be obtained by calling the museum at (740) 354-5629.