SHAMOKIN - Bidding is now open for the annual Holiday Art Auction of the Northumberland County Council for the Arts and Humanities.
The auction opened with a reception Friday night at the Fine Arts Gallery inside the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center, Eighth and Arch streets.
Attendance was low compared to a reception two months back for the previous exhibit, an artists invitational, but gallery director Claude Harrington was upbeat about the holiday show.
"It was very nice to have so many people donate art," she said.
There are 52 works of art on display in varied mediums from 21 local artists, some of which is holiday themed and some of which is not.
Each and every dollar spent on the works will go directly to the arts council.
The auction works easy enough.
Guests can visit the Fine Arts Gallery weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and simply write their names and phone numbers inside a binder on the corresponding page for the artwork on which they're interested on bidding. A member of the arts council will call everyone listed in the binder Dec. 14 to ask for their bids.
The prices are reasonable enough, with the lowest starting bid at $10 and many more between $20 and $50.
Patricia and John White, of Kulpmont, were among Friday's visitors at the gallery.
Both Patricia and her daughter, Melissa White, have photographs entered in the auction.
Titled "Joys of Parenting," Patricia's was gaining attention for a rare nature photograph depicting two adult turtles - mom and dad, perhaps - on either side of a baby turtle. The trio were resting on a log in a lagoon in Hilton Head, N.C.
Patricia said it was a rare scene and that she happened to be lucky enough to catch it.
"I learned to take my camera everywhere," she said. "The times I don't have it is when the shot I wouldn't get is there."
The arts council has two upcoming holiday events.
Roads Family Christmas, a musical comedy set to the music of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, will be presented 7 p.m. Nov. 24 and 3 p.m. Nov. 25 at the career and arts center. Tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for children, and will be available at the door.
The annual Downtown Christmas event will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Dec. 1, with a parade at 1 p.m., inside the Fun Shop building at Eighth and Independence streets.
For more information, e-mail claudeharrington977@gmail.com or visit www.nccarts.com.