Bristol artist Tom Deininger long had wanted to come up with a way to help Save The Bay, because Narragansett Bay is such an inspiration to many local artists.
He had this idea about having an art show that would financially benefit both the artists and the state’s leading environmental group. “It made sense,” he said.
Finally, Deininger just picked up the telephone one day and started making calls to see if there was any way that his vision could become a reality. Now, three years later, Save The Bay is holding its fourth annual “Artists for Save The Bay’’ art exhibit and sale, to run from June 26 through Aug. 28, at its Providence headquarters, with Tiffany & Co. a primary sponsor for the second consecutive year.
“So many of our designs are inspired by nature, it’s only fitting that we give back,” said Peter B. Englehart, group director for Tiffany in charge of the company’s Providence Place store. Like Englehart, Jonathan Stone, Save The Bay executive director, suggested that the mission of his agency and the goal of businesses in general are not disparate.
“A clean bay and a healthy environment are important to most Rhode Island businesses and to the state’s economy as a whole,” he said. “Many people in business know this instinctively and are enthusiastic about supporting our events and other initiatives,” Stone told Providence Business News. “They all should expect results – a return on their investment if you will – and I think that’s a main reason why Save The Bay is well-supported. We’re out there making a difference on the bay every day.”
The exhibit and sale will feature more than 100 pieces of bay-related art, mostly paintings and photographs, created by 53 local artists. Proceeds from the sale are split, 50-50, between Save The Bay and the artist. A reception at $30 per person will be held at Save The Bay on opening night, June 26, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with artists offering painting demonstrations on a terrace near the bay. A “Return to Tiffany Round Tag Bracelet,” donated by the famous jewelry company and worth more than $200, will be raffled off.
Last year, the Tiffany show was just one night. “It was quite successful,” Martin said, “but it was only one night during the week of the show. We realized we missed an opportunity to promote the show and be in front of buyers” for a longer period of time.
This year, 20 of the artworks are on exhibit at the store through June 24, in displays that, by happenstance, coincide with an international effort by Tiffany & Co. in New York to promote coral conservation.
A “visual merchandising team” in charge of Tiffany displays nationwide, Englehart said, artfully arranged the Save The Bay pieces in display cases paired with jewelry by designers Elsa Peretti, Paloma Picasso, Jean Schlumberger, Frank Gehry & Tiffany Design Studio. The local artwork can be purchased at the store.
Deininger, who will offer his work in this year’s Save The Bay exhibit, could not be happier about the Tiffany sponsorship.
“It’s nice to try to mobilize the troops with grassroots efforts and outreach,” he said. “But another way to do it is to go straight to the people who have disposable income, can afford to buy art and who appreciate it, to try to find a common ground.” He said he always hoped that, “as the environmental movement gained more steam,” a business would step up to sponsor the art show. Tiffany, he said, is “perfect” for this purpose. •
