11th ANNUAL ART AUCTION The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts warmly invites you to join us in celebrating our 11th Annual Art Auction and Exhibitions. This event, and its three accompanying exhibitions, is our most anticipated of the year. It is our largest annual project – it features the greatest number of local, national and international artists; spans 10,000 square feet; is our most significant fundraiser; and the kaleidoscopic survey of current art draws a vast audience. Most importantly, it is a celebration of, and critical opportunity to support exceptional talent. This event feeds the core of the Bemis Center’s mission to support artists. The auction is designed as a cyclical gift exchange. Through this event, over 200 former artists-in-residence, exhibiting artists and artist friends have offered their work to support future artists-in-residence. We are honored so many artists choose to aid this mission. Please join us in celebrating and supporting the continued vitality, beauty, surprise and risk-taking that contemporary art brings to Omaha, Nebraska. Viewers may preview the works during the auction exhibitions opening on Friday, October 2nd, through the evening of the 11th Annual Art Auction on Saturday, November 14th, 5:30 - 10:00 p.m. or click here to view the works online. New this year the Bemis Center has partnered with Proxibid to offer LIVE Auction online bidding. Perfect for those unable to make it Omaha on November 14th.   FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Where is the Bemis Center located? The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts is located at 724 S. 12th St., Omaha, Nebraska, on the corner of 12th and Leavenworth just south of the Old Market area. We can be reached at 402.341.7130, Tuesday-Saturday from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. How does the Auction Benefit the Bemis Center? All proceeds benefit the Bemis Center’s Artist-in-Residence program. What are my ticketing options? General Admission: $25 per member; $35 per non-member Includes admission into the SILENT auction, artful buffet, and open bar. Special Reservation: $50 per member; $60 per non-member Includes the benefits above plus a reservation for: The 11th Annual Auction Preview Cocktail Party on Thursday, November 12th, Seating in the LIVE Auction Room on Saturday, November 14th. LIVE Auction Gallery seating is limited and sells out every year, so call today 402.341.7130 to secure your place in the most exciting room in town. Admission to the LIVE Auction Gallery is limited solely to those with Special Reservations. Membership Levels can be found on the website: http://www.bemiscenter.org/support/membership_info.html Live Auction Gallery seating is limited and sells out every year, so call today 402.341.7130 to secure your place in the most exciting room in town. Admission to the LIVE Auction Gallery is limited solely to those with Special Reservations. Membership Levels can be found on the website http://www.bemiscenter.org Will I need an actual paper ticket? No, you're all set once you have made your reservation. We'll have your Bid Card waiting for you at the Reservations Desk on Auction Night. What time does the Auction start? The event begins on Saturday, November 14th with the SILENT Auction, which runs from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. The LIVE Auction begins immediately after the close of silent bidding and runs until approximately 10:00 p.m. Tell me more about the Auction Preview Cocktail Party... This intimate event is scheduled for Thursday, November 12th from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Your Special Reservation gains you admission to both this event and to special seating in the LIVE Auction on Saturday, November 14th. How many artists are participating in the Auction? Over 220 artists (local, regional, national, and international) from all mediums are participating in the 11th Annual Art Auction. What's new with this year’s Auction? For the 11th Annual Art Auction the Bemis Center has partnered with Proxibid to offer LIVE Auction online bidding. Perfect for those unable to make it Omaha on November 14th. Will you accept absentee bids? We welcome your absentee bids. Read on for answers to all your questions about Absentee Bidding.   ABSENTEE BIDDING What is absentee bidding? Unable to attend the art auction in person? Let the Bemis Center act as your representative in managing bids in both the Silent and Live auctions. How does the bidding process work? Select the MAXIMUM amount that you would like to bid on an artwork. Your bid is entered on the card at the onset of bidding, but only at the minimum opening bid price designated for that work. Additional bids on your behalf will only be placed if there are competing bids and only up to your stated maximum bid amount. For the Silent Auction, all bids are placed in $25 increments. The chronology of Live Auction bidding is described further below. What if the bidding stops before my maximum bid? If the bidding ends anywhere below your stated maximum bid, you win the artwork at the final bidding price. What happens if the bidding goes over my maximum bid? Because we’ll stop bidding on your behalf once your stated maximum bid is surpassed, please consider being aggressive in determining your absentee bid. Does the absentee bidding process apply to the Silent and Live auction? Bids for the Live Auction differ in two ways. Besides being placed directly by Bemis Center Executive Director, Mark Masuoka, the Live Auction is conducted by a professional auctioneer who makes on-the-spot determinations of what the next bid shall be. Using the judgment of an experienced veteran, he will call out to the audience the next bid based on the lot at hand. Our commitment to you is to bid conservatively and only in auctioneer-prescribed increments until you either win the piece or are eliminated by the first competing bid higher than your stated maximum. When will I know if my bid was successful? The outcome of your absentee bid will be communicated in an e-mail sent to you that same night after all bids have closed. Transactions for winning bids will also be processed that same night. Arrangements for pick-up, delivery or shipping of the artwork may be made beginning Monday, November 16th by contacting the Bemis Center. Please follow these simple steps to start your absentee bidding: Call the Bemis Center at 402.341.7130 with the following information: Name: Address: City, State, Zip: Telephone: (Day/Evening) E.mail: Artist Name: Title of work: Your MAXIMUM bid: Example: Bob Smith 1234 Winner Street Omaha, NE 68111 winner@artwork.com Daytime ph: 402.333.3333, Evening: 402.444.4444 Roy De Forest "Dog Man and Indian" $50,000 NO ABSENTEE BID IS VALID WITHOUT CREDIT CARD INFORMATION. Then sit back, relax and wait for the “You’re a winner!” e-mail on Saturday, November 14th! All bids must be submitted before 5:00 p.m., Saturday, November 14th, in order to be eligible for absentee bidding. For more information contact the Bemis Center at 402.341.7130.   RESERVATIONS Auction admission is $25 per member or $35 per non-member, attendees receive admission into the Silent Auction, heavy hors d'oeuvres and open bar. For $50 per member or $60 per non-member, attendees receive all of the above as well as a reservation to the 11th Annual Auction Preview Cocktail Party on Thursday, November 12th, and VIP Reserved Seating in the Live Auction Hall. LIVE auction seats are limited and must be reserved in advance. Spaces for the Bemis Center’s 11th Annual Art Auction sell out every year, so make certain that you call soon! Call 402.341.7130 to make your reservations today.   Auction Presenting Sponsors: Karen and Robert Duncan Betiana and Todd Simon Annette and Paul Smith Laura and Greg Schnackel Schwab Healthcare Strategies Carol Gendler | Marathon Realty Auction Sponsors: Allen Furniture Aqua Systems Beer and Loathing Chris Machian / Minor White Studios Dundee Dell Gallery 72 Kiechel Fine Arts Omaha Steaks Proxibid Quail Distributing The Reader Shark's Ink Urban Storage Upstream Brewing Company Visions Framing Warren Distribution The Bemis Center’s exhibition program is sponsored by: Omaha Steaks Additional support provided by: Clark Creative Group Nebraska Arts Council