ARTS FOUNDATION OF CAPE COD ARTS GALA SILENT AUCTION

May 26, 2026 (Cape Cod, MA) – Over 5 million people visit Cape Cod annually to soak up the sand, sun, and beauty of this 65-mile-long peninsula. That beauty goes far beyond nature and is reflected in the vibrancy, color, and rich history of the region’s arts sector.

And it is reflected in the one-of-a-kind artwork (and experiences) the Arts Foundation has up for grabs in its Arts Gala Silent Auction.

Opening Thursday, May 28th, the 47 items in the silent auction represent the joy and creative talent that abounds in a region that is home to America’s oldest continuous art colony (Provincetown) and which has welcomed such creative heavyweights as Jackson Pollock, Edward Hopper, Hans Hofmann, Tennessee Williams, Kurt Vonnegut, Harry Holl, Sebastian Junger, and John Waters.
With the Arts Foundation’s auction, art buyers, collectors, and investors will be introduced to the current slate who are making their own indelible mark on Cape Cod. They include the Arts Foundation’s 2022 Artist of the Year Jo Hay of Provincetown; contemporary realist Jim Holland of Brewster; Provincetown’s self-taught oil painter Derek Macara (and his stunning seascapes); sculptor and collagist MiYoung Sohn of Provincetown; and New York Times bestselling author (and visual artist specializing in mixed media) Lauren Wolk of Centerville (who happens to be one-half of the Arts Foundation’s 2026 Artist(s) of the Year).

“Whether you’re looking for a landscape that evokes the wonder and magic of the Cape, a handmade glass bowl that will be the talk and envy of any party, or a painting that offers serenity and peace, this auction has something for you,” said Arts Foundation Executive Director Julie Wake. “The best part is proceeds go to support Cape artists as well as our work to strengthen the region’s arts sector which offers connection, meaning, and creates special memories for those who live, work, and visit here.”

Along with 37 pieces of locally made art, bidders can choose from a selection of memorable golf outings — at the picturesque Hyannisport Club; Eastward Ho! which offers scenic ocean views; and a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the home of golf in St. Andrews, Scotland — as well as a wine tasting class at Dunn & Sons in Yarmouth; a VIP Package to the 4th Annual HENSC Fest at Cape Cod Beer on June 27th; and a private sightseeing cruise of Sesuit Harbor for you and 63 of your closest friends and family!

Hay’s piece, The Prince of Whales, is a portrait of British writer, filmmaker, and curator Philip Hoare who has penned several books including Leviathan, or the Whale which won the 2009 Samuel Johnson Prize.

It was during a trip to Provincetown to visit Hay that Philip, encouraged by filmmaker John Waters, went on a whale watch which led to a love, admiration, and fascination to the sea creatures. “Because of his relationship with whales, Philip swims every day, wherever he is in the world, and whatever the weather,” Hay shared.

A regular participant in the Arts Foundation’s auctions, Hay shared her excitement to be involved in its current one. “It’s really important to me to support the Arts Foundation so that they can continue to champion a diverse range of artists and artistic disciplines,” she said.

Several of the pieces, including Joerg Dressler’s acrylic painting, Like Rabbits; Denise Zompa’s oil and cold wax painting, Solitude; and Barry Oloffson’s oil painting, Fishing Boats II, are inspired by nature — something that touches anyone who has ever stepped foot on Cape Cod’s sandy soil.

The auction will run through Friday, June 12th, one day after the Arts Foundation’s annual Arts Gala at the Wychmere Beach Club in Harwich Port.

As part of its Gala, the Arts Foundation will hold a live auction, opening on Thursday, June 11th at 6:30 pm. Bidders can bid both online and in-person on five separate items, that include a trip to Mykonos, Greece; a trip to Tuscany, Italy; a private dinner for 10 at the home of Josh Cellars founder Joseph Carr; a season of exclusive shows at the Cape Cod Melody Tent; and Following Footsteps, an acrylic on fabric painting mounted on birch wood by the Arts Foundation’s other 2026 Artist of the Year Jackie Reeves.

Jackie’s piece is inspired by a photograph that her mother took in the 1950s of her and her friends at a summer camp. “I was looking at the photographs to see what is being passed onto me from my mother. I’m really interested in that because I’m the mother of daughters, so I’m interested in that mother-daughter relationship,” Jackie said. “This one photograph which was like a tiny little black-and-white photo… this figure was speaking to me. I really liked the pose, and the contemplative feeling that she had and I wanted her to feel really monumental.”

Funds raised from the Silent and Live Auctions will go to strengthen the Arts Foundation’s work to increase access to the arts for all, especially children; to empower Cape Cod artists and creatives to take meaningful steps forward on their professional journeys; and to invest in arts projects that have a tangible impact on the Cape and Islands.