‘Pipe Dreams’ art going up for bids

The Fairfield Art Association is putting its art installation 'Pipe Dreams,” currently on display in the garden nodes in downtown Fairfield, up for silent auction bidding.

This annual fundraiser for the Fairfield Art Association will begin Thursday, July 25 in time for RAGBRAI visitors to have a chance to take one home. Several of the entries carry out the 'steam punk” bike theme set by the local RAGBRAI committee.

The silent auction will have a two-part bidding format for RAGBRAI visitors to participate, with all bid sheets located at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center in the Main Gallery.

Round one of bidding will be on Thursday, ending at 8 p.m. Any art piece with an above minimum bid at that time will be considered sold. The art piece can be taken as soon as it is paid for, or remain on display until Sept. 6.

Round two of the bidding will be for all the art pieces not yet sold, and bidding will continue through 8 p.m. Sept. 6.

If someone cannot make it to the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center to bid in person during either round, bids can be text to 641-919-2121 and they will be added to the bid sheets until 8 p.m. The texts should include the art piece name, amount bidding, name of bidder and their phone number.

Ten area artists participated in 'Pipe Dreams,” the art association's 10th annual event of providing this public art installation in Fairfield. Artists and the title of their entries are: 'Double Your Pleasure” by Curt Swarm, 'Riding Across Iowa” by Annie Guldberg, 'Gearing Up for Spinning Pipe Dreams” by Susan and Francis Thicke, 'Lighten Up” by Rolf Erickson, 'Peacock Day Dreams” by Suzan Kessel, 'Snake Tree” by Pamela Landers, 'Beauty & the Bees” by Wendy Stegall, 'Imagination Station” by Mary Arnold and family, 'Half a Cup Please” by Mike Pech, and 'James & the Giant Peach” by Jason DePrey. Materials used this year included bicycles and bicycle parts, tree bark, solar lights, ceramic plates, landscape netting, and lots of other fun items. The main component provided to each artist was a 5-foot tall PVC pipe contributed in part by Hickenbottom Inc.

'Proceeds from the sale of ‘Pipe Dreams' is split 50/50 between the FAA and the artist. The artworks are perfect for adding to a public or private garden and are a conversation piece,” said Suzan Kessel, volunteer director of the Fairfield Art Association.