Designwire Daily: from the editors of Interior Design magazine

Hickok Cole Raises 110K for Washington Art Scene

by Staff | Monday, October 29, 2012

Participating artist Diana Adams.

Washington, D.C.-based Hickok Cole Architects recently raised a record $110,000 at their annual Art Night show, with post-event sales expected to reach $120,000. The 650 attendees comprised the city’s top art patrons and buyers, all treated to works in variety of mediums that were especially curated by Judy Sherman, proprietor of J. Fine Art.

The annual juried art show benefits the Washington Project for the Arts (WPA), which offers resources and essential support to regional artists. All participating artists received 5O percent of the sale price, while the other 50 was donated to the WPA.

Left: Michael Crossett, participating artist, and guest. Right: Marilynn Mendell, President, WinSpin CIC; Michael Hickok, sr. principal, Hickok Cole Architects; Lisa Gold, executive director, WPA; Judy Sherman, proprietor, j. Fine Art; Yolanda Cole, sr. principal, Hickok Cole Architects.

This year’s top-selling works, a sculpture by Joseph Corcoran and a mixed-media on canvas by Joan Belmar, went for $4,000 each. The event, now in its thirteenth year, has raised over $500,000 for WPA and local artists.

“Reaching” by Joseph Corcoran (vinyl, blown glass and neon) and “Panoramic” by Joan Belmar (acrylic, gouache and ink on canvas) each sold for $4,000.

As icing on the cake, each year Hickok Cole principals Michael Hickok and Yolanda Cole buy a new piece of art for the firm’s office. Following an employee vote, this year’s purchase was an abstract acrylic and graphite on linen by Heather Day. While the event only lasts a night, those lucky Hickok Cole employees get to work year round surrounded by the art they themselves selected.