Beryl Wight – Memphis Flyer

Pinocchio (presumably) had a wooden heart. But so do the Works of Heart guests who went home with wooden hearts transformed into works of art.

The hearts were included in Memphis Child Advocacy Center’s annual silent auction, which was held February 10th at Memphis Botanic Garden.

Not all the “heartworks” were made of wood. When the event began years ago, artists were given wooden hearts to turn into inspired heart-themed creations. Later, the rules changed. Artists didn’t have to use the heart. They could use any type of medium.

A total of 111 artists — or “heart-ists” — took part in this year’s event, says the center’s communications and grants manager Beryl Wight.

Toonky Berry at Works of Heart (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Hallie and Marc Charney at Works of Heart (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Phyllis Boger at Works of Heart (Credit: Michael Donahue)

David Simmons at Works of Heart (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Ellen Cox at Works of Heart (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Sushma Konappa, Murray Riss, and Sheila Noone at Works of Heart (Credit: Michael Donahue)

In addition to the art, the party — just in time for Valentine’s Day — featured beer and wine as well as appetizers. Big Heart Lounge ticket holders had their own room, which featured a full bar, food, and music by Three Degrees: Rice Drewry, Donna Wolf, and Donna Staub.

Rice Drewry, Donna Staub, and Donna Wolf at Works of Heart (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Chris Blizzard at Works of Heart (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Richard and Susan Glassman at Works of Heart (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Jason and Wunita Spigner at Works of Heart (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Alice Higdon and Daniel Reid at Works of Heart (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Joe Birch and Memphis Child Advocacy Center executive director Virginia Stallworth at Works of Heart (Credit: Michael Donahue)

About 350 attended and $131,000 was raised, Wight says. “I think it definitely was a success. It was record breaking as far as the amount raised.”

What makes Works of Heart special? “The artists. They’re willing to donate their time and their talent. They don’t get any kind of percentage of the sales. They’re definitely the heart of the event. And they do it for the kids.”

As for the guests, Wight says, “They want to come partly because of the mission and partly because of the event. We have some really good artists that participate each year. I think those two things combined are really a draw for a lot of folks.”

According to its website, the mission of Memphis Child Advocacy Center is “to serve children who are victims of sexual and severe physical abuse through prevention education and intervention.”

Demetri Kampourogiannis and Jessica Van Eyck at Works of Heart (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Rick Bartl, Lucas Skinner, and Jacob Allen at Works of Heart (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Curtis Smith and Sky Hamilton at Works of Heart (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Joe Birch, Corian Love, and Toonky Berry at Works of Heart (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Nia Nguyen, Deirdre Oglesby, and Hannah Oglesby at Works of Heart (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Mike and Sharon Goldstein and Kristi Goldsmith and Mike Alabaster at Works of Heart (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Forrest and Amy Edwards at Works of Heart (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Nancy Hart and Joe and Robyn Birch at Works of Heart (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Among the artists in ‘Works of Heart’ is Alex Paulus, who contributed his ‘Just Out of Sniffing Range,’ an acrylic on wood.

I have fond memories of a jam-packed Memphis College of Art with people crowding around and bidding on every size and shape of “valentine” imaginable.

That won’t be the scene this year. Fundraisers have gone the way of the dinosaur — at least for now. But you gotta have heart. So take heart. “Works of Heart” will take place, but this year’s event is virtual.

The Memphis Child Advocacy fundraiser, which will celebrate its 29th anniversary, will be held February 7th through 14th. It will feature heart-themed art by more than 100 artists. Bidders will go online to try to snag their heart’s delight.

Among the artists contributing work are Dolph Smith, NJ Woods, Quantavious Worship a.k.a. Toonky Berry, Veda Reed, and Alex Paulus.

For John McIntire’s ‘Cave Stone,’ the artist traded a banjo for the stone, found in Middle Tennessee, that was transformed into this beautiful sculpture.

“We knew the event was going on no matter what and the committee had a lot of discussion about what that was going to look like,” says Child Advocacy Center communications and grants manager Beryl Wight. “Even thought about postponing it. And we just settled on that we’re going to go head and do it virtually this year ‘cause it is a Valentine’s event.”

Artists are traditionally given a 12-inch wooden heart to use as their inspiration, but they don’t have to use it. Works in various shapes include painting, photography, jewelry, and mixed media.

This year’s event will feature the Big Heart Lounge, but it also will be virtual. Those who purchase a Big Heart Lounge ticket will receive exclusive admission to a live, virtual preview of the artwork hosted by Joe Birch from 6 to 7 p.m. on February 6th. They also will receive a valentine box that includes a bottle of wine and other goodies, a yard sign, an event T-shirt, and first bids on all artwork. Big Heart Lounge tickets are $200.

Last year’s event, which was held February 15th at Memphis College of Art, was one of the last big fundraisers before the COVID pandemic shut everything down. That event, which featured 111 hearts and drew 450 guests, was a huge success. They raised a record-breaking $98,000, Wight says.

Virginia Stallworth is executive director of the Memphis Child Advocacy Center.

A Works of Heart link will be posted closer to the date, but those interested in purchasing tickets to the Big Heart Lounge or want other information can go to memphiscac.org/worksofheart.

Napapon Santirojprapai (aka Pam Santi) shows ‘Zen Heart,’ a wooden heart with wire and acrylic paint.

Ken Woodmansee’s ‘Funnel of Love’ is, in the artist’s own words, “A reminder of the power of love, especially during times of chaos, crisis, and uncertainty.’

Connie Hendrix’s ‘Suppression’ is about the many forms of suppression experienced during the historical year of 2020.

David Simmons ‘Hendrix: Star Spangled Banner’ is No. 18 in a series represents a “salute to democracy.” It recalls the definitive rendition of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ as performed by Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock in 1969 — a “powerful dawn to anew day in America.”