The third annual yART Sale, sponsored by the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, will be held from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday at the Powerhouse. The yART sale is open to all who are looking to sell, buy or haggle for interesting and unusual pieces of art and art supplies. In past years, the sale has included art work, frames, supplies, décor, set props, clothing and much more.
yART sale visitors can come explore what the arts council has to offer or bring their own art to sell and trade. You can shop until you drop, or you can trade out your things for new abandoned art. To purchase items from the yART sale, bring cash or lots of flattery. No credit cards or checks accepted.
The trading of art goes on from 10 a.m to noon. At noon, all items will be going half price. At 2 p.m., the arts council will be giving away all of the leftover items from the yART sale and will help you load it.
Stacey Sanford is the mastermind behind the yART Sale. Currently serving as the Outreach and Program Coordinator of the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, Sanford is a Tupelo native who graduated from The University of Mississippi in 2005 with a degree in Secondary English Education. Sanford has been working for the YAC for over two years.
Sanford said the inspiration for the yART sale came from her excitement with yard and garage sales.
“The fun part is that we don’t know what is going to show up, the materials change every 30 minutes,” Sanford said. “You’d be surprised how many people call and say that they have a mosaic bird bath they don’t want, or ‘Hey, my ex-boyfriend who cheated on me gave me this painting, and I don’t want it.’”
In past years, the money from the yART sale has been used to buy the artist vending machine located in Cups Espresso Café. All items in the artist vending machine are just $5, and you can find anything from handmade soap to jewelry and small paintings.
“The money from the yART sale is always going towards something to help promote our local artists,” Sanford said.
Andi Bedsworth has been to past yART sales and is currently helping Sanford organize this year’s yART sale.
“It is fun, and the community really enjoys it. It is funny with lots of excitement,” Bedworth said. “People bring in some crazy fun art and pieces that may only be half finished.”
She encourages everyone to come out and see all of the interesting things that come through their doors.
For more information or questions about this year’s yART Sale or how to volunteer, call the office at 662-236-6429 or email Sanford at OutreachYAC@gmail.com. For additional updates, join the Facebook event page titled yART Sale 3.0.
Sara Kiparizoska