Nakashima Table to Highlight Bucks County Artists’ Auction

Hand-crafted English Walnut Wepman end table donated by Mira Nakashima of Nakashima Woodworker in New Hope

Nakashima Table to Highlight Bucks County Artists’ Auction in Support of Local Syrian Refugee Families

The public is invited to an auction of stunning items of woodworking, stained glass, quilting, ceramics, and painting by Bucks County artists which will highlight An Afternoon of Music, Art, and Stories on Sunday, November 12, at Congregation Kol Emet, 1360 Oxford Valley Road, Morrisville, beginning at 2:45 p.m. to support two young Syrian refugee families who arrived in Bucks County one year ago.

Highlight of the event will be a live auction around 4 p.m. of an exquisite hand-crafted English Walnut Wepman end table donated by Mira Nakashima of Nakashima Woodworker in New Hope.

Former Pennsylvania Commerce Secretary and volunteer auctioneer, Norval Reece, said “This auction has some magnificent creations by Bucks County artists, and the Nakashima table is an elegant piece for any room. I am privileged to own a Nakashima table I bought twenty years ago, and this one we're auctioning is outstanding. Mira Nakashima called it ‘the best in the shop.’ Don’t miss this event.”

The afternoon will begin with a silent auction and refreshments at 2:45, followed by the live auction and live music by keyboard soloist Jeff Dershin and Atzilut: Concerts for Peace performers Jack Kessler, Stan Slotter and Joe Tayoun featuring Arabic and Jewish music.

The two young Syrian families will tell the story of their first year in the United States and their hopes for the coming year: Moustafa and Amal and their two daughters Yusra, age 4, and Rasha, age 2, who arrived in November 2016, and Weaam and her two sons Sulaiman, age 11, and Abdulrahman, age 8, who arrived in January 2017.

The silent auction will run from 2:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. to give attendees a chance to bid on pieces by more than 20 other Bucks County artists, including a beautiful full size quilt by internationally known Bucks County professional quilter, Liza Prior Lucy, and an elegant small handmade letter opener by Raymond Matthis of Tutto Metal Design.

“I’m so impressed by the courage and determination of these refugee families” says Julie Stockler of the Deadhorse Bay Arts Company in Newtown. “It is an honor to be part of this event.” Another artist said it was a privilege to support the “interfaith effort by so many volunteers dedicated to the success of the refugee families in this country.”

The auction is sponsored by the Bucks County Interfaith Coalition for Refugee Resettlement, an all volunteer group of Jews, Catholics, Protestants, Quakers and Muslims “working together for the success of these refugee families.”

Project coordinator, Pat McBee of Newtown Quaker Meeting, said “The generosity of these artists has been deeply moving and affirms for me the importance of this work. And the enthusiastic response to this auction by the community has been to say to these two newly-arrived Syrian families what all of us already know, “Bucks County is a wonderful place to live and raise a family.’ We’re looking forward to a terrific afternoon with fun for everyone!”

Information and tickets are available at https://afternoon-of-music-art-and-stories.eventbrite.com or contact bcicrr@gmail.com.