They had hoped for 100 paddles and $10,000, but the Algonquin Outfitters Tom Thomson Paddle Art Auction is on track to double those expectations.
The auction stemmed from a contest in honour of the 100th anniversary of Tom Thomson’s death – he died under mysterious circumstances in Algonquin Park’s Canoe Lake and his paddle was never found. Anyone who wanted to get creative could purchase a paddle blank and paint, adorn or carve it in anyway they pleased, as long as it still resembled a paddle in the end. And get creative they did.
By the contest closing date on August 31, Algonquin Outfitters had received 206 paddles, all of them unique. Some artists stuck with the Tom Thomson theme, adding his visage or a replica of one of his works. Some used the location of his death as inspiration, or simply let nature be their guide. Others let their imaginations run wild.
Photos of all of the paddles are displayed online for bidding – as of this morning the total of the bids exceeded $17,000. Bidding closes at midnight tonight (11:59 p.m. EDT on September 29, 2017) and those who have their hearts set on a certain paddle may well drive that total upwards of $20,000, said Randy Mitson, AO’s Marketing Director. Proceeds will be divided between Oxtongue Lake for Arts and Culture, and the Town of Huntsville’s reserve fund for the future acquisition of public art.
All of the paddles will be displayed during a live event today as part of Culture Days. Starting at 3:00 p.m., you can stop by the Algonquin Theatre to view all of the paddles. It’s worth checking out if only to see the detail on the paddles not evident in photos, and appreciate the effort put into their creation. And you can place an online bid at one of the bidding stations, too.
At 6:00 p.m., the fun begins in the theatre with live entertainment by local musician Sean Cotton, playing a Canjo – an electric banjo created from a paddle for the contest. There will also be a screening of the film The Canoe, samples of the new Tom Thomson-inspired West Wind Black IPA from sponsor Lake of Bays Brewery, and an open mic session with paddle creators talking about their experience. (Get the full schedule here.)
When the event is over, you can continue to bid from home until the final seconds of the auction. Place your bids here.
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Algonquin Outfitters has demonstrated superlative community care with this paddle auction. It’s an understatement to say that much wonderful art was acquired for surprisingly good value. Hats go off to all the artists and bidders, and particularly to the folks at Algonquin Outfitters.