“BACKYARD FARM”: This spire by Colleen Miller is one of 63 colorful sculptures from the “ArtSpires” community art project now being auctioned off to benefit the artists and the Hopewell Valley Arts Council. The auction closes on December 19 at 4 p.m. with a live online event at hvartscouncil.org.

As part of the Hopewell Valley Arts Council’s community art project and exhibition, “ArtSpires,” 63 colorful sculptures have popped up in 19 clusters this fall throughout Hopewell Valley. These unique pieces have been created by local artists and community members. Now, the spires will be auctioned off to the public to benefit the artists and the HV Arts Council from now to December 19, 2020.

To take part in the auction, and for full details and photos of these works, the public is invited to visit hvartscouncil.org/artspires.

The ArtSpires project commemorates the loss of native ash trees to the emerald ash borer beetle as part of the organization’s ongoing initiative “Out of the Ashes: Art Emerging from Fallen Trees.” Art spires are milled from American ash wood felled by Hopewell Township Public Works and transformed into art.

“We are honored to produce our art spire from a fallen ash tree that depicts a woodland setting,” said artists Robin Wolf and Palmer Uhl of the process of creating their spire, “A Walk in the Woods.” “2020 has been a difficult year for our world. Many of us have found that nature and a walk in the woods brings us peace and solace.”

Their spire and dozens more will be available for public purchase via the online auction. The auction closes on December 19 at 4 p.m. with a live online event featuring trivia, a sing-along, and fun for all ages. Watch the final bids as they come in and find out who gets to be the proud new owner of which spire.

The arts spires will remain on display until April 2021 to provide community viewing through the winter and spring months. Spires will be delivered to their new owners in the late spring. Proceeds from the auction benefit the individual artists and support the mission of the Hopewell Valley Arts Council to increase art awareness and appreciation in the greater Hopewell Valley.