Come one, come all, to the auction on Sept. 4th!

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/14311927[/vimeo]

What 3 objects do you have lying around at home that would be an alluring addition to a public auction? I’ve been milling this question over lately as I plan to participate in the upcoming auction in Walker’s Open Field on Saturday, September 4th. Since I don’t really possess anything of great financial value, except my shiny new laptop (which I won’t be bringing), I started to weigh the value of my belongings  by the stories they reveal, their emotional hold on me, how they connect me to the people in my past and present life, and how their function and aesthetic are an expression of who I am.

I’ll give everyone a preview of my 3 objects later this week once I’ve made my decision. If you want to get involved or just watch the auction, here’s what you need to know:

Futurefarmers’ month-long Open Field residency  “A People Without A Voice Cannot be Heard” culminates in a lively and unusual take on the auction in which everyone is  invited  to participate.  Custom-designed  Futurefarmers “currency” is provided gratis for an event in which story-telling and the art of the auction come together.   Bring a picnic or grab food at the Garden Grill.  You won’t want to miss this event!

Part 1: Objects on Blankets   11:00 am- 1:00 pm

Futurefarmers invite us to consider what our possessions say about us in this unusual auction.   Bring a blanket and three objects from home and spread out on the Field prepared to share a story with others.  Throughout the morning Futurefarmers will collect these stories as special “vocal” guests roam the field.

Part 2:  Auction and Drawing   1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

An auction commences where you may be invited to have professional auctioneers Glen and Dale Fladeboe auction one of your objects  by retelling your story in their own inimitable voice.  Futurefarmers will be making interpretive  drawings of the selected auctioned objects and the owner of the object  can choose which to keep­—drawing or object—and which one is awarded to the winning bidder.