The Sedona Police Department will auction Sedona artist Elizabeth Silk’s work “Golden” as a fundraiser for the Special Olympics of Arizona.
The idea for the auction came about during the Sedona Renegades Artist Group’s recent First Friday reception at Hozho Center. Silk was inspired to participate after hearing about the transformative experience that Special Olympics provides its participants from SPD officer Catherine Beers, and decided to auction her work “Golden,” which she values at $7,000, with all the proceeds going to the nonprofit.
Beers said she has raised $20,000 annually for the last three years for SOAZ and that Silk’s donation is another way to get people involved.
“Every $500 that’s raised for the Special Olympics allows an athlete to participate in perpetual events throughout the year,” Beers said. “There’s small groups such as the Sedona High School group The Red Rockers and there’s the adult group … in Cottonwood.”
Beers added that these teams are planning to compete at the summer and fall games in Phoenix, while the spring games will take place on Friday, May 5, and Saturday, May 6.
Each $500 allows people to participate in different events, and typically athletes will choose a specialty sport. Special Olympics will ensure participants get to events including providing bussing, ensuring that the money directly improves Verde Valley residents’ quality of life, Beers said.
“Having some funds, whatever they are, is fantastic for the team,” Verde Valley Special Olympic softball coach Heather Risk said. “We just bought new uniforms and we haven’t had new uniforms in 15 years … Going to the summer and fall games is the pinnacle for these guys.”
Risk pointed out how inviting her team is, as the youngest player is 20 years old and her oldest player is 65, with no upper age limit to play.
“I never knew I would be as passionate about the Special Olympics until I got involved,” Beers said. “It’s personal for me. I have special needs in my family … and it’s not just for the athlete, it’s for their family who get to see them reach their full potential, and so for me, I do it because it is impactful.”
“Golden” is a 60-by-40-inch oil on canvas with gold flakes embedded in the paint that shows a horse running toward the viewer at full speed representing strength and freedom, according to Silk.
Silk explained that much of her work is God-inspired visionary art, or depictions of American Indian warriors. Her father is Sioux and Chippewa, while her mother is English. Silk was raised by her grandparents in Cheshire, England. She said that art is in her genes and her heritage continues to inspire her professionally after relocating to Sedona from Las Vegas.
“Being in Sedona changed the direction of my art,” Silk said. “I used to just paint portraiture to make it lifelike. Then when I came to Sedona I started doing visions of these native people and they were in sketches and charcoal and I was left wondering, ‘Where did that come from?’ and now I’ve been in Sedona for about 26 years.”
The painting is priced at $7,000, typical for a Silk work of that size and complexity. Silk added that her works in a gallery will generally sell for between $8,000 and $10,000.
The two main annual events in which the SPD participates to benefit SOAZ are the Law Enforcement Torch Run, which took place last month, and Over the Edge, which will be held in Phoenix in November.
“Each person raises $1,000 to participate and then they rappel 27 stories down the Cityscape building,” Beers said. “The athletes can do it as well and the last year they even sent a wheelchair over, which was epic.”
Over the Edge is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 18, and will be open to the public, meaning that anyone can sign up and take part in the excitement.
To register or access additional details, interested individuals can visit specialolympicsarizona.org. Interested parties can bid on “Golden” by calling Silk at (928) 202-0405 until the end of the month of May. Questions about the event or how to support the program can be directed to Beers at Cbeers@sedonaaz.gov
