By Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter
Auctioneer William Tavares-Finson calls the bid on 'The Red Dress', the Barry Watson painting which fetched the highest price at the Jamaicans for Justice gala dinner and auction on Saturday night at the Knutsford Court Hotel. The painting went for $175,000. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
JAMAICANS FOR Justice (JFJ), the human rights lobby group, hosted a swanky gala dinner and auction last Saturday night.
The group put on the function to raise funds for its activities.
The guests who packed the Blue Mountain Suite at the Knutsford Court Hotel, Ruthven Road, Kingston 10, were treated to exceptionally delicious food and entertainment.
Songmaster Wayne Armond and Nothing Fancy Disco did the musical honours but the high point was the auction. The auction was conducted as professionally as it was entertaining. There were some exciting duels as bidders upped their offers for whichever piece caught their eye.
William Tavares-Finson was the able auctioneer and between his frolicking and the humour of Derek Jones, the master of ceremonies, guests were as busy wiping tears of laughter from their eyes as they were bidding.
WELL-KNOWN ARTISTS
Some of the artists featured were Christopher Gonzalez, George Rodney, Susan Shirley, Roberta Stoddart and Frances Henriques. Only a handful of the pieces were unsold on Saturday, but there is no reason for them not to go by this week. The highest selling piece was a Barry Watson oil painting on canvas, 'The Red Dress', which went for a whopping $175, 000 still a bargain considering the $300,000 price tag on it.
Dr. Carolyn Gomes, executive director of JFJ, was full of praise for the artists and collectors, who donated their works and in some cases, all of the proceeds of sale. She felt that this showed belief in the organisation's work.
With good food and music and quality art, all for a good cause, the night was well spent.
