Arts & Entertainment

"The Art of Marriage" Auctioned To Support LGBT Rights Fight

Proceeds from Thursday's auction at a Southwest Minneapolis gallery will go to oppose marriage amendment.

Art and activism will be united as one on Thursday evening at FrameUps’ Capstone Gallery.

The frame shop and gallery will host a silent auction to benefit Minnesotans United for All Families.

See pieces being auctioned in our gallery at right.

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Minnesotans United is a coalition of organizations and community leaders dedicated to defeating the proposed constitutional marriage amendment that would define marriage as between one man and one woman in the state constitution, reflecting existing state law.

“What the amendment, to me, is doing, is curtailing the conversation,” said Faye Passow, a framer at FrameUps and the event’s organizer. “As a society, we want to promote differences of opinion and a person’s ability to express them.”

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FrameUps owner Tim Harwig has long been interested in hosting an LGBT community event. Passow and Harwig were inspired to orchestrate “The Art of Marriage” after Passow’s friend, artist Jim Dryden, participated in a similar show at the co-op gallery Form+Content in March.

“This was something we could do to support the cause,” said Passow.

Passow began planning “The Art of Marriage” in mid-June, recruiting artists through various networking avenues, such as email, Facebook and postings on artists.org.

So far, Passow has not received any negative feedback regarding the auction or its political goals.

Harwig specified that participating artists are not solely members of the gay community. Capstone Gallery has encountered a diverse array of local artists who oppose the marriage amendment.

“The arts community, to me, has really rallied around this cause,” said Harwig.

There will be some LGBT art available for bidding, but the auction has no overt theme. The show will be a traditional fine art exhibition and will include paintings, photographs, tile work, prints, sculpture and silkscreen.

Capstone Gallery is currently nearing its maximum capacity as an exhibit space, due to the degree of interest from local artists.

The majority of participating artists hail from the Twin Cities metro, although the show is regional and also includes the work of artists from Duluth and Wisconsin.

“There’s incredible power in working together,” said Kate Brickman, press secretary for Minnesotans United. “We see this as a great opportunity to help connect.”

Passow estimates the auction will include the work of approximately 70 participating artists. Minimum bids will range from $15 to more than $300. Passow hopes to see about 300 art lovers attend the event and estimates that the auction will raise approximately $7,000-10,000.

Food and drink, including a cash bar, will be provided by and The Lowbrow.

All proceeds from the auction will go toward Minnesotans United. There will also be a direct donation table at the event, so auction attendees looking to donate need not feel pressured to purchase a piece.

“The Art of Marriage,” will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday at FrameUps. Attendance is free.

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