| March 16, 2007--Scotland Neck | SCOTLAND NECK NC – (MARCH 16) –Down East Animal Refuge (DEAR) is having a special fundraiser art auction at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park and Eco-Center in Scotland Neck on April 7, 2007. Viewing begins at 9:00 a.m. and the auction officially begins at 3:00 p.m.
Over 20 local and national artists have donated prints and original work to this special fundraising event. DEAR is featuring two artists each week until the auction on April 7.
 Our first featured artist, Evelyn Morris Hecht, hails from Chapel Hill. Evelyn is a self taught designer and artist and has spent 15 years in the New York fashion industry. Her experience includes designing for private clients, several years of designing under her own label Evelyn Morris, and a variety of positions in established fashion houses. In 1989 she became interested in animal rights issues and decided to change her life direction based on this. It started coming together in 1993 when she rescued her first dog Ollie, a 2 year old abused Bichon Frise. Evelyn started using her talent as an artist to do dog portraits, with the intention of someday turning them into a business that could contribute to the cause of abused animals. In 2004, the business Top Dog Art was created. Evelyn has also been a member of the Pastel Society of North Carolina since 2001.
“Bambino” and “Sweet Dreams” are only two of the approximately 20 prints that Evelyn has donated to the DEAR Auction. All of her donated prints will be available for viewing online and at Sylvan Heights on the day of the auction.
The next featured artist is Bob Timberlake. Bob is an internationally know realist painter who makes his home in Lexington, NC. After graduating with a B.S. degree in Industrial relations in 1959 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he worked in five family businesses in a hands-on executive capacity. Bob didn’t begin to professionally paint until 1970. He was honored both by Presidents Carter and Reagan at the White House for his work  with Keep America Beautiful, Inc. On January 19, 2996, North Carolina Governor Mike Easley presented Bob Timberlake with the “Order of the Long Leaf Pine” during a ceremony at the Timberlake Gallery.
Bob Timberlake has donated a print entitled “Together Again” to the auction. An interesting note, the original print from Bob Timberlake that kicked off the Keep America Beautiful campaign, is on display in the lobby of the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park and Eco-Center.
People wishing to donate art items for the auction can contact Jackie Jones at phone 252-826-2500 or email her at jackiejjjj@aol.com. Please make sure DEAR has the item by March 31 in order to get the item in the auction preview brochure. All auction proceeds will go to towards the daily operation of the DEAR Scotland Neck shelter.
DEAR also would like to thank their host, Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center & Eco-Park, for taking on this unique event. Sylvan Heights houses the largest collection of rare and endangered waterfowl in the world. DEAR encourages people to come early and tour the facility (there is a ticket fee or membership options). More information concerning the park can be viewed on their web site at www.shwpark.com.
If you have a question concerning this art auction, rabies clinics, adoptions, fundraisers, donations, or the DEAR shelter, please contact Down East Animal Refuge at 252-826-2500, information@downeastanimalrefuge.org, or by visiting the web site at http://www.downeastanimalrefuge.org. |