MassArt 2D 150th Anniversary Exhibition

Raising the Gavel: The Early History of the MassArt Auction and its Chief Auctioneer

From a humble grassroots beginning the MassArt Auction has grown to become one of our institution’s most recognized and bounteous events. Few know, however, about the Auction’s origins and how it evolved to become the event it is today. This exhibition highlights several facets of the Auction’s early history and its formation within MassArt’s Fine Arts 2D Department.

The very first Art Auction at MassArt was held in 1977. Conceived by the Painting department’s Student Painting Association (a predecessor to the SGA), it began with a single altruistic goal: to provide scholarships to financially strapped students. The auction began by soliciting drawings, paintings, and prints first from students and faculty, then from alumni, and grew over the following years to include works from the FA3D department and other visual media. In 1989 the Massachusetts College of Art Foundation took over governance of the auction to benefit scholarship aid and program support across the entire campus.

The early years of the Art Auction cannot be introduced without giving due acknowledgment to its Founder and Chief Auctioneer - Dean Nimmer. Dean was Professor of Painting and Chairman of the Fine Arts 2D program at MassArt from 1983 to 2001. A prolific and internationally respected abstract painter and teacher, Dean’s teaching career at MassArt began in 1970. He retired thirty-five years later, in 2004.

In 1987 Nimmer initiated the Celebrity Auction and collected auction-worthy ‘art’ donations solicited initially from politicians on Beacon Hill and later from international celebrities like Whoopie Goldberg, John Updike, Bob Dylan, and more!

The modest FA2D Art Auction of 1977 was the historical precursor of the today’s MassArt Auction, which is overseen by the College’s Foundation and which now raises more than a million dollars each year. The current exhibition highlights the early history of that auction, and how it grew to become the auction that it is today, while highlighting its initial goal of raising scholarship funds for needy students.

Painters and Printmakers Scholarship Fund

Throughout the early years of the Auction, it was primarily a 2D affair. Even as late as 1987, when the auction pulled in more than $43,000 (equivalent to $110,000 today), its primary purpose was to "help support scholarships for the schools' painting and printmaking students.

The fund was known as the Painters and Printmakers Scholarship Fund, re-named the Fine Arts Scholarship Fund in 1987.

Two years later, in 1989, the auction was placed under the umbrella and organizational reach of MassArt's Foundation, where it remains today.

Dean Nimmer, Chief Auctioneer

Dean Nimmer started the MassArt auction in 1977, and he remained a primary catalyst through its evolution over the next dozen years. As late as 1987 (the Auction's "11th year," according to an article in MCA's quarterly, Perspectives), Dean continued in his role as the event's "Chief Auctioneer."

Having grown up in rural Wisconsin, and owning a knack for imitation, Dean presented, year after year, colorful straight man parodies of mid-western auctioneers from the stages of MassArt's carious art auction venues. These parodies generated considerable amusement from the audience, and considerable proceeds from their pocket books.

• Artists mentioned: Lauretta James, Larry Hayden, Rosane Diluna, Anne Burrell, Deb Moleca, Connie K Theoharis, Saeed Mahboub. (Many were students).
• Auction was held in the Fullerton Building, first floor: “Fullerton Gallery and Garage” (141 Brookline Ave)
• Auction works were donated by students only (no faculty)
• Over 100 pieces were donated, all of which sold
• Brought in $2,000
• Auction was sponsored by the Student Painting Association (SPA)
• Proceeds from Auction were disbursed by the Association for “visiting artists, models, art supplies and equipment and improvements in the painting studios at the Overland building.”
• Dean Nimmer was auctioneer

• Students and faculty were urged to submit work. This was the first mention of faculty contributions.
• Dean Nimmer and “a small group of MCA students” proposed this Festival.
• First auction to mention 50/50 split: 50% of proceeds goes to artists; 50% to SAF (Student Assistance Fund)
• 2D and 3D works were auctioned off
• SAF = Student Assistance Fund (founded in 1978). The purpose of SAF was to help needy students buy art supplies and school books (particularly those students who did not get financial aid).

SUMMARY of (2nd) 1978 AUCTION

Name: Second Annual Art Auction* Note: this December 1978 auction, sponsored by the Student Painting Association (SPA) is different from the earlier May 1978 “Spring Festival” Auction.

When:  December 7, 1978 (a Thursday)

Where: Longwood Cafeteria

• Unlike the “First Annual Art Auction” of the SPA (1977), this one kicks back 50% of any sales to the contributing student artist
• Peter Clapper and Carolyn De Tullio, students, are mentioned
• It’s unclear if the “all” who were encouraged to submit work included faculty.
• It’s also unclear if Dean Nimmer served once again as “auctioneer”

AUCTION YEARS 1979-1981

This was a tumultuous period—1979-1981—in MassArt’s history.

Governor Edward King had slashed the budget for state higher ed, and MassArt stood at significant risk for three years of being merged into UMass Boston. 
 

The uneasy atmosphere created by developments such as these likely contributed to the contraction of planned events such as the Auction which, at the time, was in its fledgling years. Thus far, no records for any auctions between the years 1979 and 1981 have been found. However, a thorough, five-page “Outline” for a proposed “Art Auction” was put together and submitted by Ilona Von Karolyi, Director of Planning and Development at MassArt and sent to recipients on a “distribution list” for her proposal. Ms. Karolyi notes in her proposal that she had consulted with Ron Hayes (FA2D) when putting together her auction outline.
 

Ms. Karolyi’s “outline” was dated 13 June 1980. She proposed in her outline an auction which would tentatively be scheduled to take place December 4th or 11th (1980). Ron Hayes provided Ms. Karolyi “a description of tasks” for the auction and suggested Drew Hyde as an excellent auctioneer. Ms. Karolyi’s detailed outline includes the following subject titles: 

• publicity for the event
• a number for the guests projected to attend the auction (= 400)
• the work to be auctioned 
• exhibition and preview of work 
• the auction itself 
• Ms. Karolyi refers to an Ogunquit auction (what was this)?
• organization, security, housekeeping
• a budget outline.

SUMMARY of 1982 AUCTION

Name:  In each of these newspaper advertisements, the 1982 Auction was titled simply, “Art Auction.” However, a formal card or poster advertisement for an auction two years later (in 1984), refers to it (the 1984 auction) as the “Third Annual Auction,” suggesting that this auction, in 1982, was the “First Annual Auction,” at least of its sort.

When:  Three days - Thursday, April 8th - Saturday, April 10th, 1982

Where: Two venues are given for the auction, but they are one and the same. The venue listed in the above Boston Herald advertisement, states that the auction venue was “Thompson Gallery.” In the Boston Globe advertisement, the venue is “Longwood Auditorium.” Both of these were at 364 Brookline Ave., and are one and the same. In 1979, the Alumni Association at their annual meeting that May renamed the “Longwood Theatre and Gallery” (Longwood Auditorium) the “Ms. Frances Thompson Gallery,” after an alumna of the class of ’23.

• The auction included selected works by faculty, students and by invited artist guests, from outside MassArt. (This is the first mention of invited artist guests participating in the auction).
• No mention is made here of a 50/50 split of proceeds between the artist and the cause: i.e. to support “scholarship and fellowship programs.” 
• All of the artists mentioned in the ad are painters and printmakers, (no 3D artists).
• Note: this is the first auction where an auction “preview” period is mentioned
• No receipts for this Auction have been located.

No records were found from the 1983 Auction

SUMMARY of 1984 AUCTION

Name: Third Annual Auction

When:  April 24 - April 28, 1984

Where: “Palace Auditorium,” i.e. old North Hall, today called Pozen  Center.

• The proceeds were to benefit the Painters and Printmakers Scholarship Fund.
• Auction had a four-day preview period
• Auctioned work were “oils, drawings and prints,” i.e. the auction was still a 2D affair.
• There were 150 works of art to bid on
• Auction includes work by “nationally known artists”
• Note: The MassArt painting department relocated from Longwood to North Building in Feb 1983. The North building included the “Palace Road Auditorium,” today’s Pozen Center.
• See Rob Moore’s statement about the new facilities. 

“At the outcome of a faculty meeting held at the North Building in the first week of February, Rob Moore said, “It was felt by the painting department that we needed to move now. By second semester space was tight in Overland and some students would have to paint at home. So we as faculty and students got the affirmation of Jerry Hausman and President Nolan to move.”

Source: MassArt Magazine, 30 Feb 1983, p. 5

SUMMARY of 1985 AUCTION

Name: Fine Arts 2D 4th Annual Auction

When: Friday, May 10, 1985

Where: 3rd floor cafeteria & 11th Floor Tower [President’s Gallery]

• Sale again to benefit FA2D Scholarship Fund (not an All-College scholarship fund)
• Exclusively Drawings, Prints and Works on Paper, i.e. FA2D
• $10, $25 and $50 plus price range
• This auction is well-documented in the Archives’ Auction folder, with info on funds raised and disbursed, names of contributing artists, amounts artworks sold for, list of FA2D students receiving Painting and Printmaking Awards (funded through this 2D Auction/Sale)
• The Auction sale was modest: $3,030 was brought in.

SUMMARY of 1986 AUCTION

Name:  2D/Fine Arts Auction

When:  Wednesday, May 7, 1986

Where: North Hall Gallery, (formerly called Palace Road Gallery, later renamed Pozen Center)

• 50/50 split with artist
• This was an auction of 2D and 3D works
• It is well documented in the “Auctions” folder in our Archives.
• 54 3D pieces submitted
• 16 3D pieces sold
• 186 2D pieces submitted
• 69 2D pieces sold

SUMMARY of 1987 AUCTION

Name:  11th Annual Auction/Sale of Paintings & Prints

When:  May 5, 1987

Where: North Hall Gallery, (formerly called Palace Road Gallery, later renamed Pozen Center)

• The 11th Annual Auction, like the first Auction eleven years earlier, was of “paintings and prints” (i.e. exclusively 2D)
• It grossed over $43,000 ($21,500, after 50% split with contributing artists)
• Of this amount, $3,000 went to honoraria to deserving 2D students.
• $13,000 was placed in a scholarship trust
• Dean Nimmer “continued in his auction role as the main auctioneer.”
• Auction included some “celebrity” drawings by Governor Dukakis, Tip O’Neil, and Senator John F. Kerry.

SUMMARY of 1989 AUCTION

Name:  Art for Artists Auction

When:  April 10-14, 1989

Where: North Hall Gallery, (formerly called Palace Road Gallery, later renamed Pozen Center)

• Painting and Printmaking students and faculty were formally joined by their 3D counterparts
• Sale grossed $9,000
• Auction grossed $28,000
• $17,000 went to the artists
• $9,000 was netted by the Fine Arts Scholarship Fund

 

This image of Mona Lisa holding a SOLD sign was the Invitation Card to the 1986 2D Fine Arts Auction held on May 7, 1986 from 7-10pm in the North Hall Gallery (later named the Pozen Center).

The Celebrity Auction

 

In addition to playing a foundational role in the development of the Art Auction, Dean Nimmer launched the spin-off Celebrity Auction in 1992.

As early as 1987, at Dean's instigation, a small group of special guest "celebrity" contributors were requested to submit original artwork for auction. Thus, during that year's auction, drawings by then Governor Michael Dukakis, former Speaker of the House, Thomas "Tip" O'Neil, and U.S. Senator John S. Kerry, were among the works that Dean auctioned off. (Dukakis's childlike drawing of a Boston trolley fetched an "admirable" $390).

After the annual auctions were subsumbed under the Massachusetts College of Art and Design Foundation in 1989, Dean returned to organizing and auctioneering scholarship-raiting events for FA2D's praining and printmaking students.

By 1992, Dean initiated a new idea: the Celebrity Auction, not to be confused with the newly-renamed, annual Foundation Auction, which began in 1989, and was held annually each April.

The Celebrity Auction was created specifically "to benefit programs in the Painting and Printmaking departments." That first year (1992), it grossed $6,500, from drawings made by (among others) Bob Hope, Timothy Leary, Whoopie Goldberg, William F. Buckley, Orville Redenbacker, and John Updike. (Source: Perspectives, Spring 1992, Vol. IV, No. 15, p. 12)