ROCKPORT

The 38th Annual Center for Maine Contemportary Art “Art to Collect NOW” Auction Exhibition will open to the public on Wednesday, July 15, with a reception from 5-7 p.m. at the Bicknell Building, 11 Lime St., Rockland, CMCA’s temporary home for summer 2015 .

The “Art to Collect NOW” exhibition features the work of 100 of Maine’s top contemporary artists such as Lois Dodd, Yvonne Jacquette, Alex Katz, David Dewey, Mark Wethli, John Bisbee, Dahlov Ipcar, Dennis Pinette, Eric Hopkins, and many more, along with work by new talents such as Greta Van Campen, Anneli Skaar, Jacob Hessler, Caleb Charland, Joshua Ferry, and Toleff

Runquist. The exhibition will remain on view through Saturday, July 25.

The live auction event will take place on Sunday, July 26, with a cocktail preview beginning at 5 p.m. at the Bicknell Building, followed by a Gala Bean Suppah and the auction under a tent on the FMC property at the corner of Lime Street and Tillson Avenue. Kaja Veilleux of Thomaston Place Auction Galleries will serve as auctioneer. Always a fun event, this year’s auction promises to be even more so with the excitement of CMCA anticipated move, a new venue, excellent art by 100 of Maine’s foremost artists, and the “Gala Bean Suppah” by Swan’s Way Catering. The auction is CMCA’s most important fundraising event, providing critical support for exhibitions and educational programming.

CMCA would like to thank its summer 2015 neighbor, FMC, for use of their property for this event, as well as gold sponsors Cold Mountain Builders, Distinctive Tile & Design, Dowling Walsh Gallery, Machias Savings Bank, Old Port Advisors, and major media sponsor, Maine Home + Design. Tickets for the event are $150 and available for purchase at CMCA’s website, www.cmcanow.org, or by calling (207) 236-2875.

As a special bonus, exclusive hardhat tours of CMCA’s new building on Winter Street are available to auction ticket holders only from 2-4 p.m.Sunday, July 26. To reserve a tour please call (207) 236-2875.