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An Art Benefit for Brooke: Fine Art Photography Auction Will Raise Money for 20-Month-Old Girl

Posted on: Friday, 17 February 2006, 09:00 CST

By Lisa Davis, Grand Forks Herald, N.D.

Feb. 17--Art can brighten anyone's life.

But a little girl could see her life change through art this evening.

The Fine Art Photography Silent Auction set for 7 tonight in Firelite Studio will benefit Brooke Ramstad.

Now 20 months old, Brooke, the daughter of Megan Beiswenger of Fisher, Minn., and Scott Ramstad of Mayville, N.D., was born with a congenital disorder, Arthrogryposis, which limits the range of motion in her arm and leg joints.

Inward rotation of the shoulders, abnormal extension of the elbows and bending of the wrists, fingers, knees and feet make it impossible for her to function at all levels.

She recently underwent her first surgery to try to straighten her left foot. The surgery was partly successful, but her family hopes that she can undergo more surgeries to improve her condition.

Photography auction

That's where the auction comes in.

Brooke's aunt, Heather Beiswenger, a photographer and co-owner of Firelite Studio, has received donated prints from artists across the United States that will be on the block tonight. She first came up with the idea in October, after her sister in Australia began collecting Australian-themed quilt blocks for a quilt to be raffled.

"We said you can't just have a quilt raffle," she said. "Then it just kind of hit me that I know a lot of photographers."

Heather requested fine art prints from colleagues across the country, and she received everything from landscapes to still life from artists as far away as California, Florida and New York.

Unique portraits

She said about half the collection are black-and-white wall portraits, and many of the photos have been manipulated to enhance their appearance.

For instance, a lady from New Orleans photographed scenes in the city and then manipulated the images to look like oil paintings.

Other photos have been printed on canvas, giving them a unique appearance.

A starting bid, determined by the size and technique of the finished prints, will be listed on each work. Tickets to the silent auction are $25 each and will be available at the door.

As for how much the auction might bring in for Brooke, Heather said she can't even guess, but the family hopes to raise $6,000 to $8,000.

"We realize it's not going to last very long with all the expenses she's got, but it will at least give her a little boost," Heather said.

The family also has arranged a raffle to be held in conjunction with the auction. All funds will go to help the family make trips to Minneapolis for Brooke's medical treatment and future surgeries and to make their home disability-accessible.

Quilt raffle

Brooke's aunt, Jolene Pedersen, was in Australia when Brooke was born.

"I was mentioning to the neighbor lady that I wanted to do something, and she said why don't you send out squares of fabric to ladies in quilting club," Pedersen said.

She sent out 16 squares to 16 different women with information about Brooke, along with a request for Australian-themed pieces. The finished product portrays the Land Down Under through culture, wildlife and coin.

The quilt pieces feature aboriginal designs, native animals such as kangaroos and koalas, maps of Australia, an image of the Sydney Opera House and even the Australian 50-cent piece.

The quilt top was put together in Australia and quilted professionally in Crookston by Just For Fun quilts.

"It took a lot of time, emotions and creativity," Pedersen said. "Whoever wins it is very lucky."

Tonight is the last chance to purchase a quilt raffle ticket, which costs $2. The quilt will be raffled off this evening as the grand prize. The second prize is an Australian care package, and a third prize is an Australian coin set.

Davis covers arts and entertainment and regional news for the Herald. Reach her at (701) 780-1105; (800) 477-6572, ext. 105; or ldavis@gfherald.com.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Grand Forks Herald, N.D.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Grand Forks Herald (Grand Forks, N.D.)

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