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.
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.
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.”
