Art show raises money for Fourth Street Preserve

“Just seeing what catches my eye,” said Georgia Tugend of Lewes as she admired some of the paintings on sale at the Art for Open Space Fundraiser.

Tugend said she should have come earlier, because just 30 minutes into the event, many of the pieces had already sold.

The fundraiser was held July 27 at the Inn at Canal Square in Lewes to raise money for the Greater Lewes Foundation’s Campaign for Open Space to buy and save the Fourth Street Preserve.

The preserve is a 29-acre parcel in the heart of Lewes. The campaign kicked off more than a year ago in an effort to buy and protect the forest from development.

Tony Boyd-Heron, owner of Peninsula Gallery on Savannah Road, culled the art from local artists.

“My goal was for everything to sell and we’re getting pretty darn close,” Boyd-Heron said.

The doors opened at 11 a.m. and the artwork started flying off the walls. A red dot signified the pieces that had been sold. It did not take long for organizers to run out of red dots.

The event raised $18,000, according to Pam Costanzi, open space campaign manager.

Jim Ford, Open Space Alliance campaign chair, said there are more fundraisers planned for the fall, including dine-and-donate events at Lewes restaurants.

Ford said the campaign has now raised $3.7 million toward its goal of $8 million.

“There seems to be a lot of momentum,” Ford said.