Annual art auction benefitting Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department is Aug. 31

The Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction is held near Labor Day weekend each year under a big top tent in Rist Canyon, west of Fort Collins. Over the years, the auction has grown from a small, community affair into a major event held in high esteem within the nationwide art community.

Since its humble beginnings in 1996, over 1,300 pieces of fine, original art have been auctioned for a total of more than $1.8 million dollars. This year’s auction is Sunday, Aug. 31, 1-4 p.m. across from and at RCVFD Station #1, 11835 Rist Canyon Road.

The featured artists are both local to Colorado and also known internationally. Offered are eclectic subjects to choose from such as landscapes, Western art, wildlife and contemporary and modern. The media presented include oil on canvas, paper and linen, acrylic, watercolor, bronze and mixed media.

The public will be able to bid on the art that you see at www.RichardSchmidAuction.com the afternoon of August 31, from 1 to 4 p.m. Bidding numbers will be e-mailed to you, so you should email [email protected] if interested in bidding.

The auction is also the site of the Rist Canyon Mountain Festival featuring live and silent auctions, car show, book sale, crafts, face painting, balloon animals, food and more. The festival is Aug. 31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The brave men and women of the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department fought to save homes and lives during one of the largest wildfires in Colorado history, the 2012 High Park Fire, and assisted with the flooding of 2013.

Thanks to Richard Schmid, an internationally known artist, RCVFD has been benefitting for close to 20 years from his dedication to the arts and providing an event and venue that assists in fundraising for the local fire department. RCVFD receives no government funding and relies each year on the generous support of artists, art connoisseurs and the community.