If you’ve never been to the PONCHO Gala before, there is no better time than the present. For those who have never attended the PONCHO Gala or are 40 and Under, take advantage of our Nouveau Patron pricing at $300 ticket (that’s $100 off the regularly priced $400 patron ticket).

Also, if you are considering hosting a table at the GALA, be sure you’ve got your table already reserved. Drop Victoria a line at victoria@poncho.org to put your name on a table or two. Your guest lists can follow.

Breaking records is becoming a habit with the PONCHO Art Auction.  The 7th Annual PONCHO Invitational Fine Art Auction, was held Saturday, February 23, 2008 at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center. This annual fundraiser not only showcased over 300 break through pieces of art, but also provided a stage for naming the Artist of the Year , Patti Warashina. The event was sponsored for the 4th year in a row by Presenting Sponsor Safeco Insurance.

This year’s sold out crowd broke attendance records as well as raising $374,695 auction night for a new record. Over 728 guests (including 200 artists) circulated among the works displayed for the silent auction before heading down to the formal dining area for the live auction which featured works curated by Billy Howard from Howard House, Susan Grover from Grover Thurston Gallery, and Barbara Shaiman from Seattle Art Museum Rental/Sales Gallery. As local artist and PONCHO Art Auction co-chair Judith Kindler said, “It was truly an amazing night. It is so exciting to see such break through art presented and the amazing response from attendees.”

Seattle media personality Nancy Guppy served as host of the evening and got things started with a creative rendition of Robert Palmer’s classic “Addicted to Love” by the highly entertaining a Seattle Men’s Chorus group, Captain Smartypants. As stated by PONCHO Art Auction co-chair Annette Parks, “This year’s event exceeded our fundraising expectations and we’d like to thank all of our fantastic donors for their ongoing support.”

Outstanding auction items included:
· Ribbit, Ribbit: Judith Kindler’s mixed media on panel piece – Valued and Sold at $15,000
· Views from the Top: Spike Mafford’s Inkjet prints – Valued and Sold at $6,000
· Opalized Glass Bauble Necklace: Lucia Sayyah’s vintage glass and freshwater pearl necklace set in 24 karat gold – Valued $850 Sold - $3,250
· Villarceau Eccentricities 02: Michael Schultheis’s acrylic on canvas – Valued: $3,500 Sold: $5,200

To see photos of the evening, visit here.

If you aren’t familiar with Duell Fisher and his crew of exceptional photographers at Team Photogenic, you need to get out more often. These highly experienced photographers don’t miss a frame with the IT happenings around town. Unobtrusively dressed in black, Team Photogenic is always on hand (particularly at any PONCHO event) to capture those not-to-be-missed moments, fun party pix, and document those memories you’ll want to look back for years to come.

Something you may not know, Duell and his team are hitting the red carpet this season with an added video component. Glamorously clad auction attendees and chic partygoers will now be interviewed on what they are wearing by Duell Fisher and his co-host Stacy Lill. Watch for Duell’s new Seen by Team TV at this year’s PONCHO Gala.

Thank you Team Photogenic for all you do for the arts and congratulations for being recently named “Business of the Year 2007” by the Greater Sseattle Business Association! In case you didn’t know, Team Photogenic donates 25% of all online sales from PONCHO events to the local arts organizations PONCHO supports. For further information on this full service photography company (architecture, portrait, wedding, commercial and event photography) visit www.teamphotogenic.com.