Festival of Trees Benefit Auction for Cops8
New Orleans, LA -
Historic Exchange Alley will be all dressed up for the Holidays
to introduce its first “Art in the Alley” event. Many of the
residents and businesses on Exchange Alley have joined together to restore
the alley to it’s previous glory and to launch a series of “Art
in the Alley” happenings designed to celebrate the arts in New Orleans
and to raise money to support our 8th District New Orleans Police.
Exchange Alley’s “Art in the Alley” premieres November 30 and December 1 with a “Festival of Trees.” Local artists and designers have volunteered to create their own personal vision of a holiday tree. Live trees and sculptures will be erected throughout the French Quarter on November 20, and will culminate with a reception in Exchange Alley on Saturday, December 1.
The trees will be on display in various locations in and around the French Quarter before the final event. (Locations below.) The trees will be put up on auction on Ebay for bidding by the public. Proceeds from the auction will be donated to COPS 8-the Citizens Organization for Police Support the 8th District New Orleans Police. Participating artists include James Michalopoulos, Erica Larkin, Michael Cain, Adam Farrington, Mitchell Gaudet, and James Vella…to name a few.
Sponsors are being sought to guarantee starting bids for the trees, many of which will be lavishly adorned with precious art.
Click
here to view Festival of Trees video.
Click
here to view Photos of the Trees!
Click
here for eBay Auction Information!
“It will not only be a beautiful, sparkling artistic triumph of trees … it will be fun! It’s New Orleans, so NATURALLY there will be music, food and spirits! And those of us who live in the Quarter know neighborhood cops work hard all year to keep the peace and make us safe. We want to do something for them to say, thank you.” General Manager, Rachel Vella, said of the event.
“Wouldn’t it be great to have a Christmas Tree designed by Michalopolous in your house??? You just need a twisted room to put it in!” Toni Davis, NOTV “Seriously, Michalopolous Gallery was one of the first to volunteer for this project … they’ve been great, and so has everyone in the Quarter. We hope locals will come down and spend a few nights, bid on a tree, do their shopping in the Quarter and enjoy a traditional New Orleans Revellion feast at one of our partnering restaurants!”
“The Alley is so beautiful already… I can’t imagine what it’s going to look like with all those trees and Holiday Lights and carolers! I can’t wait,” Andrea Thornton, Monteleone
“We have fun on this Alley all year ‘round, but this is going to be really special.” David W. Oestreicher, Attorney
“Everyone has really pulled together
to decorate and renew the Alley… it’s been a labor of love,
and this will really be the icing on the cake!” John Finckbeiner,
Attorney.
A big thank you goes to Plant Gallery for donating the trees and Absolut
for sponsoring the reception.
 Click here to download Festival of Trees Map (.pdf) |
Artist: Adam
Farrington
Venue: Taylor Bercier
Location: 233 Chartres St
Medium: Adam will create his tree from metal and it will
be indoor / outdoor to hang on a wall
Tree: Click
for photo!
Starting Bid: $1,500
Buy It Now Price: $3,000
eBay Auction: Click
for eBay Auction!
Artist:Michael
Cain
Venue: Pelican Club
Location: 320 Exchange Alley
Medium: Michael’s tree is made of metal, can be indoor
or outdoor, has lighting on the inside- the symbol on top of the tree is
take from NOPD badge.
Tree: Click
for photo!
Starting Bid: $8,500
Buy It Now Price: $16,000
eBay Auction: Click
for eBay Auction!
Artist: Webkinz
Venue: Ginjar Jar
Location: 611 Royal St
Medium: Ginjar’s tree is a live tree with over 20
holiday and collectable Webkinz on the tree
Tree: Click
for photo!
Starting Bid: $150
Buy It Now Price: $1,000
eBay Auction: Click
for eBay Auction!
Artist: Mr.
Larry
Venue: Ofadean Salon Spa
Location: 536 Bienville St
Medium: Mr. Larry’s tree is a live tree with over
2,000 Euro of hair accessories from Paris. From colored hair extensions
to shimmering hair pieces a wonderful gift to give to a girls home or club!
Tree: Click
for photo!
Starting Bid: $150
Buy It Now Price: $1,000
eBay Auction: Click
for eBay Auction!
Artist: James
Vella
Venue: J W Marriott
Location: 614 Canal St
Medium: James has created a hand blown glass tree; you
could call it a floor chandelier with all of its grandeur.
Tree: Click
for photo!
Starting Bid: $7,000
Buy It Now Price: $16,000
eBay Auction: Click
for eBay Auction!
Artist: Michalopoulos
Venue: Michalopoulos
Location: 617 Bienville St
Medium: Found Objects
Tree: Click
for photo!
Starting Bid: $500
Buy It Now Price: $3,000
eBay Auction: Click
for eBay Auction!
Artists: Mitchell Gaudet &
Erica Larkin
Venue: NOTV office
Location: 330 Exchange Alley
Medium: Erica did all of the metal work on this hanging
holiday tree, and Mitchell casted all of the glass pieces with recycled
glass by hand.
Tree: Click
for photo!
Starting Bid: $4,000
Buy It Now Price: $9,000
eBay Auction: Click
for eBay Auction!
Artist: Catherina
Venue: Mystic Tea Leaves
Location: 638 1/2 Royal Street
Medium: 5 foot pink artificial tree with Mystic powers,
including teas from all over the world, tarot cards, golden tea cups, crystals
and much more.
Tree: Click
for photo!
Starting Bid:$150
Buy It Now Price: $1,000
eBay Auction: Click
for eBay Auction!
Winning bidders will also receive a letter to show the purchase as a charitable
contribution for tax purposes.
FACTS-AT-A-GLANCE
Date and Time of Event: All trees and holiday sculptors will be in the alley from Noon on Friday November 30 to 9:30pm on Saturday Dec 1. Free Reception is Saturday, December 1 5 :00 pm –7:00 pm
Place: Exchange Alley between Conti and Chartres, in the French Quarter.
Cost: This event is free to the public. Trees will be auctioned – details to be announced
For more information on COPS 8 please email info@cops8.org or visit www.COPS8.org
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