Paul Reiter Benefit Auction

There is going to be a benefit auction of artworks by local artists from Paul Reiter's estate, whose tragic and untimely death I wrote about here. The auction will be at Mad Art Gallery on this Sunday, June 12, 3 - 6 PM. I have pasted some details below.

Art Sale for Paul Reiter at Mad Art on June 12
Good Samaritan was murdered while breaking up robbery of neighbor

The family and friends of the late Paul Reiter have planned a silent auction of his large collection of local art in an effort to distribute his work by St. Louis artists and to raise money for the son who survives him.
Paul was a veteran progressive activist and unpretentious arts patron who was active with KDHX in its earliest days, supported almost every cultural institution in town, and served The St. Louis American for 22 years as circulation manager. He was murdered on May 9 when he attempted to chase away a thief breaking into his neighbor's home. He was 58 and is survived by a 20-year-old son who is studying at Saint Louis University.
An exhibit and sale of the Paul Reiter Collection of St. Louis Art will be held 3-6 p.m. Sunday, June 12 at Mad Art Gallery, 2727 S. 12th St. in Soulard.
There is no admission price. Mad Art will operate a cash bar. Award-winning barbecue master Roland Frank will offer cheaply priced Q in the courtyard.
Opening bids for the work will be priced affordably, with the intention of selling everything. All work will come off the walls and go home with buyers that night at the conclusion of the silent auction. Organizers will begin closing the bidding process at 5 p.m. and be finished with all sales by 6 p.m.
Paul's collection included work by Paul LaFlam, Craig Downs, Cindy Royal, Michael Hoffman, Carmelita Nunez, Jeremy Hendry and many other St. Louis artists. It includes paintings, prints, drawings, assemblages and sculptures that range in size from very small to very large. Almost all of the work is professionally framed and ready to be displayed.
"When he was stationed in Japan with the U.S. Navy in the seventies he brought back several souvenirs – tea sets, kimonos, carved wooden doors; and he shipped us wooden clocks from Europe," Paul's sister, Joyce Fraser, said. "He had an interest in the arts and spirituality early on. That began his journey. And it progressed to helping local artists in the St. Louis area."
Fraser said his family was surprised to learn how supportive of the St. Louis arts scene their brother had been. In addition to more than 100 works of local art displayed in his home and office, he collected hundreds of postcards and dozens of posters from the many art shows he had attended all over the metropolitan area.
"St. Louis artists lost a great friend and supporter in Paul," she said.
Fraser said the primary goal of the event is to show Paul's art as a complete collection one more time and then see that that the art gets into the hands of Paul's friends and fellow supporters of St. Louis' lively but under-appreciated art scene. The family also hopes to generate funds to further Paul's son's education. Fraser said anyone who wishes to contribute to Paul's son without bidding on art will have the opportunity to do so at the event.
All proceeds from the art auction and all donations will go to Christopher Paul Reiter, Paul's son.