Bidding began Wednesday, Oct. 15, in the Eureka Springs School of the Arts’ Mad Hatter Ball 2025: A Space Oddity Online Auction, a dazzling showcase of creativity that celebrates the best of art and fine craft while supporting ESSA’s mission to provide hands-on learning opportunities in the visual arts. Bidding will continue through 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17.
The auction is open to everyone, with no event ticket required. More than 120 works of art and fine craft are available, including jewelry, sculpture, paintings, woodworking, textiles and more. View the full catalog and register to bid at: https:// www.silentauctionpro.com/bidonlinegrid. php?groupId=3567.
Among the treasures in this year’s auction are works by ESSA’s own founders and acclaimed artists.
• Doug Stowe, ESSA co-founder and celebrated woodworker, has taught nationally and internationally and authored 15 books on fine woodworking; one of which features the handmade wooden box included in this auction.
• The auction features three original pieces by Mary Springer, known for her sculpture, figure drawing, painting, and jewelry, and co-founder of the beloved White Street Art Walk.
• Eleanor Lux, a renowned weaver and bead artist whose studio was a cornerstone of the Eureka Springs arts community for decades, created a beaded necklace on offer in the auction, a rare delight for collectors.
The auction also features remarkable works by other noted artists with deep ties to Eureka Springs and beyond. A large print by the late Mary Sims, whose stylized oil paintings and inventive compositions earned her national recognition, will be available, an exceptional opportunity for collectors familiar with her legacy.
Cynthia Kresse’s “Storm Clouds over Inspiration Point” captures a view beloved by locals and visitors alike, while Susan Morrison’s “Cedar Falls I,” a signed artist proof, reflects the late artist’s lifelong devotion to the beauty of American landscapes and wildlife. Numerous other talented artists are featured in this showcase of art and fine craft, making the auction a true delight for collectors and art lovers who appreciate our region’s creative community.
Every bid supports ESSA’s mission to provide accessible, high-quality education in art and fine craft. Proceeds from the auction fund scholarships, free hands-on programs in art and fine craft, and the improvement of ESSA’s scenic campus and studios, ensuring future generations of artists can learn, create, and connect.
While the Mad Hatter Ball’s live event on Friday, Oct. 17, at the Crescent Hotel has officially sold out, the online auction offers everyone a chance to participate in the excitement from anywhere. For those eager to claim a favorite piece early, the Buy It Now option allows bidders to secure items the moment the auction opens.
Keep up to date with everything ESSA by visiting essa-art.org or follow @eurekaspringsschoolofthearts.
To register to bid, visit: https:// www.silentauctionpro.com/bidonlinegrid. php?groupId=3567 or https:// essa-art.org/events/mad-hatter-ball/.
