MOOSE JAW — The Meet Me in Mortlach initiative continues to develop and, with its first season drawing to a close for the winter, Mike Beaudoin, one of the organizers of the Bohemian Market in Mortlach, is hoping to conclude the inaugural season by auctioning off one of Darren Jones’ handmade tree carvings.
The sculpture now resides in Moose Jaw and an online auction with a starting bid of $4,500 will run from Nov. 15 until its conclusion on Dec. 30.
“His (Beaudoin’s) idea is that we’re going to auction it off to the highest bidder. He wants to raise money for the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank,” announced Jason Moore, the food bank’s executive director who is managing the auction.
Beaudoin hopes to gain the support of local businesses or organizations who wish to share in the charitable spirit this Christmas season. Half of the proceeds raised through the auction will be donated to the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank and half will support the ever-evolving Bohemian Market in Mortlach, Sask.
Beaudoin announced the launch of the auction earlier this year but, he opined, the somewhat remote location in Mortlach and gradually spreading awareness of the Meet Me in Mortlach initiative gave the campaign a slow start. Now, with greater visibility in Moose Jaw, he’s hoping to relaunch the campaign.
The carving is the handiwork of renowned chainsaw sculptor Darren Jones, who was also the artist behind the Don Cherry statue erected at the entrance to Mortlach earlier this year.
“Darren Jones is the artist, and it’s his passion,” Moore said. “He just likes to help people out. And, so, he has graciously donated this statue and (half of) the proceeds of the sale or auction to the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank.”
The auction officially started on Nov. 15 with a post launched on the food bank’s Facebook page.
To participate, any individual, business, or organization wishing to support both the food bank — which helps around 800 families each month — and the Meet Me in Mortlach initiative behind the Bohemian Market — that aims to revive small town Saskatchewan and put Mortlach on the map as a permanent seasonal venue to showcase local artists, artisans, and entertainers — can simply visit the food bank’s Facebook page.
The auction will be through a bidding process in the comments section and each participant simply has to enter their current bidding price.
The sculpture also sits on a trailer and Beaudoin has agreed to transport it to the winning bidder — within reasonable distance, of course.
“We are incredibly grateful for this generosity from the Bohemian Marketplace in Mortlach,” Moore said. “It has done a few different things over the summer to raise funds for the food bank at their events, so this is just another way for them to, again, reach out and try to help our community. So, we appreciate it.”
For more information about sculptor Darren Jones visit ‘CabStudio’ on Facebook.
The sculpture can be viewed in the south parking lot of the Castle Building Centre at 506 High Street West.
To participate, visit ‘Moose Jaw and District Food Bank’ on Facebook. For more information, visit MJFoodBank.org or call Jason Moore at 306-692-3855.
The Facebook auction will conclude at 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 30, with the winner announced on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025.
