2008 Experiential Auction, Sept. 21, Atomic Cowboy

Poetry Scores will hold its 2008 Experiential Auction from 5-8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 at Atomic Cowboy, 4140 Manchester Ave. in St. Louis.

Admission is $10, which will be discounted from your first winning bid. All proceeds from the auction will go to Poetry Scores, a St. Louis-based arts organization that translates poetry into other media.

A list of experiences on auction will be provided at the end of this announcement. A few examples, before getting into the logistics of how the auction works:

Secretary of State Robin Carnahan takes you horseback riding on her farm in Rolla; Soprano Christine Brewer takes you to a rehearsal of Verdi’s Requiem with The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra; the artist Michael Lynch paints your pet as Abe Lincoln or Napoleon and you get to keep the signed painting; Tom Schlafly treats you to a beer at a Schlafly brewpub and donates a signed copy of his book, A New Religion in Mecca; the photojournalist and fashion photographer Wiley Price (St. Louis American) shoots your personal portfolio; and the homebrewer Anthony Brescia makes you a custom case of beer to your specifications with a label of your design on each bottle.

All bidding for all experiences starts at $10 and is open now. You may email a bid for any experience to brodog@hotmail.com (please put “Experiential Auction” in the subject line). Someone from Poetry Scores will confirm that your bid has been received and let you know whether it is the leading bid or not. Or you may leave a message with your contact information at http://poetryscores.blogspot.com/.

All advance bids will be compiled and publicized before the Sept. 21 auction event. At the auction itself, experiences will be available in three sets: an Early Bird Silent Auction from 5-6 p.m.; a Live Auction from 6:15-6:30; and a Straggler Silent Auction from 6:45-7:45 p.m. Throughout the event (and afterwards), Atomic Cowboy will be serving food and drinks, in its normal course of operation.

Winners will receive a certificate stating they were the winning bidder for their experience and contact information for their experience donor. Poetry Scores also will follow through and make introductions between all experience donors and winners. The winners will have a complete calendar year (starting Sept. 21, 2008) to collect on their experiences, and will need to sign a simple waiver taking personal responsibility for their health and well being while having their experiences.

The arts group organizing and benefitting from the auction, Poetry Scores, is dedicated to translating poetry into other media. It innovated the form of the “poetry score,” a long poem scored as one scores a film, and has completed and released three poetry scores: Crossing America by Leo Connellan; Blind Cat Black by Ece Ayhan; and Go South for Animal Index by Stefene Russell. It has also published three books of poetry: Nailed Seraphim by K. Curtis Lyle; Pink Skunk Clownfish by Joe Esser; and A Heart I Carved for a Girl I Knew by Chris King. These works are avilable locally at Vintage Vinyl, Euclid Records, Laumeier Scupture Park, Firecracker Press and Apop in St. Louis.

The group has made a film to the Blind Cat Black score that premiered at the 2007 St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase. Poetry Scores also organizes an annual Art Invitational, where artists make original work that responds to the same poem and is titled after a fragment of language from the poem. This year, artists are responding to Nailed Seraphim by the local poet K. Curtis Lyle. That invitational will be held at Hoffman LaChance on Friday, November 21.

For any questions about Poetry Scores or the Experiential Auction, contact Chris King at 314-265-1435 or email brodog@hotmail.com.

A complete list of experiences on auction follows, divided into three categories: Live, Early Bird Silent, and Straggler Silent.

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LIVE AUCTION

Secretary of State Robin Carnahan takes you horseback riding on her farm in Rolla.

Soprano Christine Brewer invites you to attend a rehearsal of Verdi’s Requiem with The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra as her guest (she performs it with the symphony Feb. 13-14, 2009).

The artist Michael Lynch paints your pet as Abraham Lincoln or Napoleon Bonaparte, and you get to keep the signed painting.

The homebrewer Anthony Brescia brews you a case of beer to your specification, with customized labels of your design.

Attorney and entrepreneur Tom Schlafly has a beer with you at a Schlafly brewpub, answers all your questions and donates a signed copy of his book, A New Religion in Mecca: Memoir of a Renegade Brewer in St. Louis.

The photojournalist and fashion photographer Wiley Price shoots your personal portfolio.

The dancer Beth Steinbrenner and guitarist Liam Christy perform flamenco at your party or private dinner.

The actor and artist Jeff Miller delivers a singing telegram to a friend or loved one, arriving at a front door to be determined, ready to share the emotion through song and dance, to express thanks, love, endless devotion.

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EARLY BIRD SILENT

Direct descendent of Dred Scott and parelegal Lynne Jackson takes you on a tour of the Old Courthouse, where her great-great-grandparents’ suit for freedom from slavery was heard, and talks family history.

Former Fire Chief Sherman George cooks you black eyed peas for supper.

Party specialists at Lucky You Productions will provide either a floral design lesson for you (and you keep the arrangement) OR a table design for your next dinner party/cocktail party/house party (and you keep the arrangement/centerpiece). Either option is worth $350. A great gift for Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas!

The film historian and curator Cliff Froehlich of Cinema St. Louis consults with you to choose a more obscure film you should like based on what you already like, and screens it for you and a small group in the Cinema St. Louis space in the Centene Building.

State Sen. Robin Wright-Jones takes you on a tour of the Missouri capitol building, with lunch on her in Jefferson City.

East St. Louis Poet Laureate Eugene B. Redmond takes you on a tour of the Katherine Dunham Museum in East St. Louis.

Former Comptroller Virvus Jones takes you on a tour of City Hall and tells you old war stories over a cup of coffee.

The poet K. Curtis Lyle performs poetry for your group of friends and you all get to keep a signed copy of one of the poems.

Wellness specialist and local historian Dianna Lucas offers you one of two experiences: a half-day retreat for you alone, or with up to three friends, full of inspirational activities to relax and energize mind, body and spirit, based on the wellness needs of the participants. OR: a guided tour of the Payne-Gentry House on the Missouri historic register in beautiful Bridgeton, MO, which houses a restored period doctor’s office, complete with ghost stories, cookies and cocoa, and perhaps a chance to meet with ancestral daughter Elizabeth Gentry-Sayad.

Yogini Karen Weiss of Marbles Yoga takes you through yoga exercises as you teach a partner yoga class with her.

Kyrle Boldt and Peter Shank take you on a tour of Modernist architecture in St. Louis. Kyrle is building the ArtHouse development in Grand Center, the first Modernist construction in the city of St. Louis for decades, and Peter Shank is the son of famed architect Isadore Shank.

Take a field trip with the EarthWays Center's Katy Mike Smaistrla to a far away place, that place simply known as “away” – as in where you throw your garbage “away”. Get a firsthand look (and smell) of one of the local landfills along with a personalized home recycling & composting class. Should you like, a composting bin will also be constructed for you – all compliments of the Missouri Botanical Garden’s EarthWays Center, the best place in St. Louis to learn about green lifestyle practices.

The Broadway and hip-hop producer Adam Long takes you and your small group on a star party, where you gaze at distant celestial features through his wide assortment of telescopes; overnight camping optional.

The artist Lyndsey Scott (Nevertidy) offers you a smorgasboard of playtime in her studio at Lemp, possibly including ... acroyoga, interactive drawing exercises, with output of personalized Hero Doll. Appropriate for all ages!

The artist and printer Eric Woods of Firecracker Press gives you a personal demonstration in the art of letterpress printing and you get to keep whatever you print

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STRAGGLER SILENT

UMSL Chancellor and jazz pianist Tom George has you over to his house (the Chancellor’s Mansion) for informal cocktails/drinks while he plays jazz piano, perhaps joined by another musician or two.

Schlafly chief brewer Stephen Hale takes your small group on a tour of a Schlafly brewing works, followed by a private tasting and discussion.

The award-winning producers Orlando “Pretty Boy” Watson and Bradd Young license you non-exclusive rights to one of their tracks and donate five hours in the studio for you to add your vocal or verses

The artists Robert Goetz and Kim Humphries take you to the gun range and produce a DVD of the experiece (in collaboration with you, if you wish) that you get to keep.

[Note: For anyone who inquires handguns (pistols and semi-automatic sidearms of various calibers), rifles and shotguns will all be available – instruction in safe operation will be given and the experience/demonstration/documentation can be tailored to meet the winning bidder’s comfort/experience level. Join us and extend the power of your body through precision built mechanical devices!]

White Flag Projects Founder & Director Mathew Strauss takes you on his unique interpretration of The Straight Dope Art Tour of St. Louis - an unfiltered Saturday afternoon of museum and gallery hopping, full of insights, intrigues, and introductions to the people and places that make up the St. Louis art scene. And lunch is on him.

The musician, songwriter and badleader Celia writes and records a happy song about you, which you get to keep.

Landmarks activist and citizen journalist Michael R. Allen takes you on a personal tour of an abandoned building (your choice; suggestions provided) for up to five people, complete with a rooftop champagne toast.

The artist Dana Smith paints your band performing live and gives you the signed painting.

KDHX Community Media gives you a spot on the 2008 National Film Challenge! That's an $110 value - and bidding on all experiences begins at $10!
[Out of town filmmakers can email a proxy bid (as high as you are willing to go) and someone from Poetry Scores will bid on your behalf on Sunday.]

Phil Valko of The Urban Studio, Trailnet, and Old North St. Louis offers one of two adventures: a daytime bike tour of Old North St. Louis and the new Branch Street Trestle, followed by a ride up the Riverfront Trail (including historical and contemporary interpretation). OR: a hobo-style dinner at sunset and nighttime bike ride through St. Louis, including a stop at Shady Jack's Biker Bar, your very own custom-designed T-shirt, and a complimentary flask full of your drink of choice (tequila strongly recommended; if you choose this sub-option, organic limes included).

The poet and actor Stefene Russell reads your Tarot for you. Choices of Tarot deck include the Rider-Waite, Dante's Inferno Deck; the Alice in Wonderland Deck; Hello, Tarot ("the cutest Tarot deck you will ever own") or the Queen Victoria Deck.

Public house owner and gadabout Steve Fitzpatrick Smith of The Royale takes you on an escorted afternoon bar tour in the city.

Post-Dispatch journalist Matt Fernandes of the Rock Candy blog takes you to the show of your choice at the Pageant.

DJ Jaxon Noon Spin lets you on the turntables to spin records for a set at The Royale or Atomic Cowboy.

Local artist Tony Renner tours you around the modern art collection of Saint Louis Art Museum and makes a painting in consultation or collaboration with you that you get to keep.

The writer Chris King takes you to the horsefarm of Alice Neihardt Thompson, daughter of John G. Neihardt, author of Black Elk Speaks, in Columbia; optional prayer in the prayer garden that Neihardt planted to Black Elkl’s specifications.

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All bidding starts at $10 (see Comments for bids that are already in). Email your bid with contact info to brodog@hotmail.com, or drop a Comment here, or just come to Atomic Cowboy on Sunday, Sept. 21!

Image is of "The Mona Bob," painted by Kevin Belford for Tom Danforth to fulfill the highest bid at Experiential Auction 2007.