Locust Projects Hosts Smash & Grab Fundraiser

Photo by Jipsy

TM Sister's Whirl Crash Go at Locust Projects

​Miami is no stranger to the hit-and-run, but only once a year does a commotion like this go down -- one for contemporary art. For the past eight years, the alternative artist space Locust Projects has hosted Smash & Grab. It is the single biggest fund-drive that fuels innovative exhibitions and programs.

Over 100 artists, many of them based locally, will have work up for bidding at a silent auction. There's so much work donated, in fact, that every raffle ticket purchased for the event is guaranteed to secure an artwork. Past artists have included Bhakti Baxter, Carlos Betancourt, Clifton Childree, FriendsWithYou, and Kyle Trowbridge. Every year, it seems that the excitement gets bigger and the art gets even better. And what better time than now to engage new collectors and enthusiasts as Art Basel Miami Beach peeks around the corner in less than five weeks.

"Locust Projects is a vital institution in our community," says director Chana Budgazad-Sheldon. "This event is a fun way to support our exhibitions and mingle with the fantastic artists and art patrons of Miami."

So how do you get in on this mayhem? A single ticket costs $50 and $425 guarantees entry for two plus an original artwork. The first to have their raffle ticket called that evening gets first choice of any artwork in the pool, the second raffle ticket called comes afterwards, etc. While this might appear to be a fast-paced sale of local, national, and internationally-acclaimed artists, it's also a chance for guests to be an integral part of the contemporary art community in Miami as donors and developing collectors.

Keep in mind that Locust has already scored funding from the Andy Warhol Foundation and Miami's beloved John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, so having something on your wall from this gig would be no small affair. Black ski masks and gloves optional, but don't miss out on the thrill of the contemporary art chase.

On November 6, the eighth annual Smash & Grab Fall Fundraiser Event runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. with the silent auction starting exactly at 7:30 p.m. Locust Projects is the unmistakable purple building on 155 NE 38th Street, Suite 100, in the Design District. Call 305-576-8570, email locustprojects@yahoo.com, or visit locustprojects.org.

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