Going once, going twice.

Sold.

The Tamaqua Community Arts Center is using today’s technology to hold auctions online and help with funding.

“The idea of the auction came in April,” said Leona Rega, Director of the Tamaqua Community Arts Center. “Every month we highlight a different local artist, she couldn’t have her exhibit and she came to me and asked how I felt about auctioning off a few of her pieces to raise money for the arts center. We had four pieces that we auctioned off. It was fun and we thought let’s try this again.”

Four auctions were held via Facebook Live so far. Next week will be the fifth and another is scheduled for May 18.

“We had children and their families asking if it was for only adults,” Rega said. “We did a second auction with a lot of the artists over the years who donated items to the arts center. We took items that were here and we got permission from those artists. That auction raised a little over $600; almost doubling the money from the first auction.”

The third auction featured the work of 15 youth from the area.

“We framed them and some sold for as much as $100,” Rega said. “It got the families and kids excited. I had parents who told me it was the first time that they watched something together with excitement for the first time in years. It’s engaging families, artists and people who are kind of bored with television.”

Rega goes live on the arts center’s Facebook page. Bidding is done in the comments section of the livestream. The center is not federally funded and does not receive state grants - it relies solely on donations and program income.

“April was supposed to be our big benefit. … Just below half of our funds are raised during our big benefit and we couldn’t have that. We lost a lot of revenue in addition to not being able to have our everyday activities. It came as a way to raise money, but more importantly, we’re keeping the community engaged, people are having fun and it’s bringing new artists into the spotlight.”

The artwork up for auction has included everything from pottery and sculptures - to acrylic pictures on stretched canvas - to photography. A lot of the youth are doing sketching and drawing or painting.

Susan Sidoriak, owner of Silverbox Creative Studio, donated two pieces of art to the auctions. Sidoriak, a graphic designer of 30 years, created “subway art” signage which seems to be sparking interest among anyone that has ties to Tamaqua.

“I wasn’t sure if people would grasp on to the design up there, because they’re a little bit modern looking,” Sidoriak said. “I had nothing to lose, she was going to auction off pieces, and if nobody wanted them, that’s fine. It turns out it kind of flip-flopped.”

Sidoriak’s signs feature the names of different Tamaqua area venues, landmarks or destinations. Her personal favorite is a sign she named “Our Time.”

“I did one design called ‘Our Time,’?” she said. “That is my inspiration for myself. “I graduated in 1989 from Tamaqua. Roma Pizza and the Bungalow - that was really big. What resonated with me did with others, too. I didn’t think anybody would purchase that. … I could probably do one for each decade if I wanted to, but I wanted to start here and see what people thought.”

Sidoriak’s Tamaqua signs are on sale on silverboxcreative.com. Until Sunday night, a portion of the proceeds from each purchased sign will be donated to the arts center.

“I have done signs sort of like this style before for other things and just thought, what can I do for Leona to help keep that arts center open. To me, as a child and growing up in Tamaqua in high school and family, the arts never let me down. I left that town with such a solid base of education. … I have such a passion for not letting them down.”

For more information about the online auctions or Sidoriak’s signs, visit the Tamaqua Community Arts Center Facebook page.