By Linda Stinnett

Uncorked, a Derby event which includes wine tasting and art auctions, will premier on Saturday evening for the benefit of the Derby Community Foundation.

With the opening of the event at 6:30 p.m. – after the library has closed to the public – there will be wine tasting at six different stations; appetizers by Dillon’s Marketplace, Abuelo’s, Artisan Catering, Jayleen Catering, College Hill Deli (Ali Yassine) and Riverside Cafe; drinks by The Coffee House; artisan chocolates by Cocoa Dolce; string music; and a silent auction. The silent auction ends at 8:30 p.m., and is followed by a live auction at 8:45 p.m. 

Linda Bode, past chairman of the Derby Community Foundation, has organized the art donations for the event. All proceeds will benefit the foundation’s Community Enrichment Grant program.

There are 64 pieces for the silent auction and more are expected to be donated this week. Bode said the art includes oil paintings, water colors, colored pencil art, photography, stained glass, jewelry, hand-blown glass and woodworking.

For the live auction, John Parsons of Derby has donated one of his bronze sculptures and other items include a wedding photography package; KU and K-State football tickets; several resort packages (one sleeps 14); a six-passenger airplane site-seeing tour of the Flint Hills; a museum membership; and a locally made diamond and amethyst ring.

The Derby Public Library is now displaying many of the items to be offered as part of the auction. Bode said the sneak preview of the event shows the quality of the donations.

“Each year I’m always amazed,” she said. “Everybody is really trying hard this year to make it a success.”

Bode said her volunteer work for the auction is rewarding in that she gets to hear the background behind the artists’ work.

“To me all these stories mean a lot,” she said. “Each one means something to the artist and the donors and I get to hear those stories.”

The new event already promises to be a resounding success.

“By the way, tickets are sold out for this event,” said Theresa Hearn, DCF executive director, in an email to supporters. “If you aren’t attending, but see something you like on display, send your credit card with someone who does have a ticket.”