Tiny Trees fundraiser draws big crowd

It was a bursting-at-the-seams evening Friday, with the 3rd Festival of Tiny Trees drawing more than 70 guests to The Lux Art Center to bid on 18 decorative tabletop trees, six wreaths and 22 pieces of 4 by 4 art to benefit the La Conner Library Foundation. All auction sales and donations to the event, totaling $7,400, were matched one-to-one, thanks to a generous donation made to the Foundation for the new library building. With ticket sales and sponsorship, the event raised just over $13,000.

It was the first major event at The Lux, hosted by owners Rebecca Strong and Bob Jacobson. The previous two Tiny Trees events, at the La Conner Library, also drew capacity attendance.

Gnomes, unicorns, snowmen, wintering birds, Cinderella, immigration and the year 1960 were among the themes featured. The highest winning bid was $500 for “A Very Merry Scandinavian Christmas” designed by Polly Marsh. There was a tie for the People’s Choice Award: “Gnome’s Tree” by Pamelia Maxwell and Geraldine Gross, with help from Mother Nature, and “Silver Bright” by the La Conner Senior Center at Maple Hall, followed closely by “Ancestree” by Linda Keyser. Trees were previewed last week and drew locals to vote for their favorite. Voting wrapped up with the closing of the silent auction. Local residents also created and donated wreaths as part of the silent auction.

A live auction, spearheaded by Strong, was added this year: 4-inch by 4-inch art, donated by 22 local artists. Each piece was hung on a spindly and shiny white tree, with winning bids ranging from $50 to $225.

“Every year the talents and creativity of our community shine brightly at our Tiny Trees festival,” said Susan Macek, La Conner Library Foundation director. “Many thanks to everyone who created, donated, attended and bid to help grow our fund for a new library. I’m grateful to Rebecca and Bob for their generosity as hosts and a vision to create this space for the arts and culture in La Conner.”