Artist unveils piece at auction
Structural artwork by Anthony Kaufmann at 3000BC Studios.
MOSES LAKE - What is 8 inches wide by 8 inches long by 8 feet
tall and made out of basalt?
A structural art piece created by former Moses Lake resident
Anthony Kaufmann three weeks ago.
MOSES LAKE - What is 8 inches wide by 8 inches long by 8 feet tall and made out of basalt?
A structural art piece created by former Moses Lake resident Anthony Kaufmann three weeks ago.
"The most challenging thing so far about this piece is the size of it and the material it's made out of, basalt. It is a very laborious material. Basalt is harder than granite, and it can be very brittle at times, too," described Kaufmann. "When I work fast, I don't have control, but when I have control, I don't work fast."
But that's all he'll divulge about his artwork.
He's waiting for his piece to be unveiled at the Boys and Girls Club auction on Saturday.
"I want it to be a big surprise. I don't want anyone to see it or know about it until that night," said Kaufmann, 40.
He said he will use his truck to deliver the piece.
Boys and Girls club board member Steve Rimple contacted Kaufmann about two months ago to see if he'd be interested in contributing to the auction.
"I was familiar with his work and talked to a few people about him. I thought it would be interesting to have him create a piece for the auction," said Rimple. "I thought one of the new items this auction could include more of was work from artists."
Kaufmann said it was an honor to be asked to be part of the auction.
"I see this artwork opportunity as doing something for my home. It's refreshing to work in Moses Lake, there isn't as much micromanaging as there is in the big city," said Kaufmann, who currently resides in Seattle.
But his first home was in Moses Lake.
He grew up in the Highwalker Valley area.
"It was a place where if you sit outside, all you would see is the never-ending green grass," said Kaufmann.
He attended Peninsula Elementary, Frontier Junior High, Moses Lake High School and graduated from Big Bend Community College in 1990.
His first structural piece for Moses Lake was created in 2005 is called "Gabriel's Whisper." It currently is at Neppel Park.
He moved to Seattle about 19 years ago. Since then, Kaufmann has made a living designing and building custom gardens and doing construction work. He also created his own art studio, 3000BC Studios, 11 years ago.
Kaufmann's artwork will benefit more than 1,000 kids enrolled in the Boys and Girls Club program, said executive director Brant Mayo.
"We only charge $10 per kid, so this fund-raiser is going to be how we fill the budget gaps needed to fill the money needed to have those services," said Mayo.
The auction will go toward operational budget, staff facilities, and provide supplies for the children, according Mayo.
Kaufmann said he has two goals for his artwork.
"I hope that it earns money for the kids, and secondly, I hope the art piece finds a deserving home where it can be displayed," said Kaufmann.
Last year, the fund-raiser raised close to $125,000.
At this year's auction, there will be wine and microbrew tasting, a dinner prepared by Gonzaga University chef Thomas Morisette as well as silent and live auctions.
The dress theme this year will be the Roaring ‘20s. Pervious auction themes have included the Kentucky Derby and 007.
"For the past few auctions, we've geared the fund-raiser to be more dress-themed. We thought it would be a good way for the people of Moses Lake to dress up if they wanted to," said Mayo.