SAIC Art Auction Raises Over $641,000 for Student Scholarships

This month, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s (SAIC) generous community of faculty members, alums, and supporters came together to raise money for student scholarships. More than 80 alums and faculty members donated works to the SAIC Art Auction on Artsy.net, and on November 11, nearly 300 art and design lovers came together at the new SAIC Galleries in the heart of Chicago’s loop for A Happening Auction Party—an evening of electric performances and a live auction of five additional pieces. Combined, these two events raised more than $641,000.

A Happening Auction Party blurred the lines between art and life while simultaneously celebrating our SAIC community. The benefit was inspired by artist Allan Kaprow’s Happenings of the 1950s and 60s, which brought a new energy to New York City’s art scene. These fashionable events allowed the audiences to participate in artmaking-as-performance, moving through spaces suffused with sounds, lights, and tightly choreographed, interactive “happenings.” SAIC channeled Kaprow’s experimental spirit with two student-led performances and a live auction of five exclusive works. 

The Happenings themselves were a collaboration between SAIC students, faculty members, and audience members. In Happening #1: Significant Form, audience members were pulled into a performance art piece and asked to blow up balloons, walk in tight circles, and disrupt the space. For Happening #2: The Banquet, audience members were arranged with cardboard props to pose for polaroid photos. Sixty special-edition masks were created by Associate Professor and Printmedia Department Chair Oli Watt for use during the performances. 

Over the course of the SAIC Art Auction and A Happening Auction Party, the SAIC community came together to support student scholarships and the arts all at once. In the end, 67 groundbreaking works by SAIC alums and faculty members were purchased through the auction, with all proceeds helping to make SAIC’s world-class art and design education accessible to all students regardless of their economic background.

Though the SAIC Art Auction has closed, you can still support student scholarships. Make your gift today.

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