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Washington Evening Journal
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Donations come in for Mark Shafer Memorial Event
FAIRFIELD — People from near and far are creating items to be auctioned off during the Mark Shafer Memorial Event, planned for Nov. 10 at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center.
Proceeds from the auction will go toward a fine arts scholarship for a Fairfield High School senior pursuing a degree in the arts, as well as into a fund for an outdoor art installation in Shafer’s honor that will be placed outside the FACC.
The memorial event’s committee has already received many donated items from Shafer’s family, friends and colleagues. One of those is Bob Börk, who is donating three of handmade wooden boxes and lids. He estimated that it takes five to six hours to make each box. He made them in his wood shop, and that he enjoys woodworking as a hobby. When he learned that a committee was holding an auction in Shafer’s honor, he jumped at the chance to help.
Börk’s wife, Jan, is donating her own crafts, too. Jan creates cards for special occasions, and she’s donating some of them to the auction. Jan said her cards feature many themes, some of them floral, some whimsical.
Some of Shafer’s art will be auctioned off, including a corn-themed painting of a downtown. Suzan Kessel of the Fairfield Art Association said that painting will be incorporated into the public art installation planned for the east lawn of the arts center. She said other paintings from Shafer will be included in it, too, and that Fairfield High School art teacher David Kraemer is helping to design it.
Susan Shafer said her husband enjoyed painting and making artwork with a corn theme because it represented Iowa. In college, he made a ceramic earn of corn that’s a few feet wide, and that will be up for auction in November, too.
Other people who have contributed items include Susan’s sister, Jaxine, who is donating a quilt, and Kathy Tollenaere, who worked with Mark on the museum board. Tollenaere is donating a painting of an eagle. Tollenaere was also the person responsible for painting the background of the wetland birds exhibit at the museum.
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com
