Annual Fundraiser will Support Local Artists & Portsmouth Historical Society
Our benefit auction through Bidding For Good, featuring more than 50 works of art by local artists, opens to bidding on the evening of September 10th and runs through October 7th. Your winning bid will be split equally between the Portsmouth Historical Society and each artist! Our exclusive, online Jubilee program will have a VIP preview of the auction, the unveiling of the “Threads” Community Quilt, music, and more! Plus, everyone who purchases a ticket gets a take-out goodie-bag with delicious treats from Wood Stove Kitchen, Port City Pretzels, and Naughty Good Bites! A huge thanks to our event sponsors Ashton & Company, P.A., Lynne Joyce/Tate & Foss Sotheby’s International Realty, Westerly Portsmouth,Southport Printing, and Seacoast Flash!
Coverlet (George Washington coverlet), detail. Probably Bolton, England, ca. 1780; cotton. Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of Mrs. John F. Tyler (2005.033).
Zoom with us Thursday, August 27 at 7:30pm for a special lecture with Jennifer Swope, Assistant Curator of Textile and Fashion Arts at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. In her talk, “Coverlets & Counterpanes of New Hampshire: Bedcovers for a New Nation,” Swope will discuss some of the oldest objects on display in the “Threads” exhibition, and their brushes with colonial fame.
Arts, history, and culture define Portsmouth, and we realize that the artist community, so integral to the city’s unique character, has been hard hit by the pandemic. Portsmouth Historical Society has also seen financial challenges due to the stay-at-home order and social distancing requirements. To that end, we have decided to use our annual fundraiser, which provides a significant portion of the Society’s income, as an opportunity to “pay it forward” in support of artists. Our online auction will feature original works of art, with 50% of the net proceeds from the sale of each item going to the artist.
Additionally, our Fund-A-Need campaign will be dedicated to raising funds to commission artwork which will be displayed at the Discover Portsmouth Welcome Center, thereby supporting a local artist and beautifying a city landmark.
This month-long online auction kicks off with an exclusive online virtual gala event on
September 10, 2020 at 7:00 pm
So get comfy, sit back, tune in, and enjoy some treats by Woodstove Kitchen, Port City Pretzels, and Naughty Good Bites.
Tickets include:
VIP Preview of Works by Local Masters in our Online Art Auction through Bidding For Good!
The Unveiling of the “Threads” Community Quilt!
Our Favorite Refreshments in a Take-Out Gourmet Goody Bag!
Wine Raffle for a Case of Expensive Small Batch and Unusual Wines!
Historical Society’s Annual Fundraiser Goes Online; Event & Auction will “Pay it Forward” to Local Artists
PORTSMOUTH – The Portsmouth Historical Society’s 7th annual John Paul Jones Jubilee and Auction will take place virtually on Thursday, September 10 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
This year’s celebration is a benefit designed for two! Arts, history, and culture define Portsmouth. Both the Portsmouth Historical Society and the local artist community have been hit hard by the pandemic. This fundraiser, which provides a significant portion of the Society’s income, is a great opportunity for donors to “pay it forward” and support local artists as well.
The online auction will feature original works of art by local artists, with 50% of the net proceeds from each sale going to the artist. The Fund-A-Need campaign will raise funds to commission a work of art that will be displayed outside Portsmouth Historical Society, thereby supporting a local artist and beautifying a city landmark.
For the safety and wellbeing of all, the event will be hosted at a secret online location to be revealed only to those who purchase advance tickets. The party will include music, a VIP preview of works by local masters in the online art auction (on the Bidding For Good online platform), the unveiling of the “Threads” Community Quilt, and the announcement of the raffle winner of a mixed case of expensive, small batch, and unusual wines! Attendees will receive a take-out gourmet goodie-bag with some of our favorite refreshments from Wood Stove Kitchen, Port City Pretzels, and Naughty Good Bites to enjoy while watching the event.
Save the date and reserve your spot! Event tickets are $40 for members, $50 for non-members; wine raffle tickets are $20 each or three for $50. To purchase, visit www.portsmouthhistory.org or call (603) 436-8433.
PHOTO CAPTION: In previous years, Portsmouth Historical Society has hosted in-person and silent auctions for local goods and services. This year not only will the annual fundraiser be an exclusive online event, but the month-long online auction will split profits with local artists donating their works to the cause.
Assembly of the community quilt is underway! We have a small committee of volunteers putting together all the squares we received. We plan to reveal our progress at our John Paul Jones Jubilee event (online!) on September 10th! More details and links for tickets to this event farther down.
We’ve been busy preparing the quilt exhibition, but now that the exhibition is open to the public, we will get back to posting submitted quilt squares through our social media accounts!
“Coverlets & Counterpanes of New Hampshire: Bedcovers for a New Nation”
Our next “Threads” Zoom lecture features MFA assistant curator Jennifer Swope, who will take a closer look at two objects in the Portsmouth Historical Society’s collection that are currently on display in “Threads,” and that may have had close encounters with early American celebrities—George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette! Ms. Swope will talk about separating truth from fiction, a challenge often encountered with objects supposedly used by famous historical figures.
Thursday, August 27 at 7:30 pm FREE for members $15 for non-members
(*Lecture zoom link will be provided by email after registration.)
7th Annual John Paul Jones (Online!) Jubilee & Auction
Virtual Gala • Online Auction • Wine Raffle
Arts, history, and culture define Portsmouth, and we realize that the artist community, so integral to the city’s unique character, has been hard hit by the pandemic. Portsmouth Historical Society has also seen financial challenges due to the stay-at-home order and social distancing requirements.
To that end, we have decided to use our annual fundraiser, which provides a significant portion of the Society’s income, as an opportunity to “pay it forward” in support of artists. Our online auction will feature original works of art, with 50% of the net proceeds from the sale of each item going to the artist.
Additionally, our Fund-A-Need campaign will be dedicated to raising funds to commission artwork which will be displayed at the Discover Portsmouth Welcome Center, thereby supporting a local artist and beautifying a city landmark.
This month-long online auction kicks off with an exclusive online virtual gala event on
September 10, 2020 at 7:00 pm
So join us for great art, delicious ‘Goodie Bag’ treats courtesy of Port City Pretzels, Wood Stove Kitchen (Sangria mix, baby!), and Naughty Good Bites. And don’t forget to purchase a raffle ticket or ten for then amazing wine raffle.
Reminder! Inside the Discover Portsmouth Welcome Center is the entrance to another FABULOUS gallery space.
The Seacoast African American Cultural Center is hosting a wonderful exhibition of photographs by Pete Souza, chief photographer at the White House during the Obama administration.
“Obama: An Intimate Portrait” exhibition tickets are available through SAACC’s website, www.saacc-nh.org.
