Justin Gaffrey Studio Hosts Art of Giving Sep 26

Justin Gaffrey, Beachy Beach 30A and Summer House Lifestyle are teaming up to present a silent, art-auction soiree on Thursday, Sep 26 at 6:30 p.m. to benefit Food For Thought, a Walton County-based non-profit that provides healthy food to local children in need. Tickets are $75 in advance and $100 at the door with 100 percent of auction proceeds benefiting the charity organization.

Plans for the elegant evening at the Justin Gaffrey Studio Gallery in Blue Mountain Beach include hors d’oeuvres by chef duo Gaffrey and Phil McDonald of Table Five Private Chef + Catering and featured beverages from Chan’s Wine World and Grayton Beer Company.

Gaffrey’s outstanding collection of rare original works The ART of Giving silent auction featuring 100+ rare works by South Walton artist Justin Gaffrey is currently underway now through September 26th at 8:30pm. Visit the online auction website at www.biddingforgood.com to view the rare and diverse collection of Gaffrey originals and make bids in advance. The extensive selection was donated by Gaffrey for the ART of Giving event, and all proceeds will benefit Food For Thought, a Walton County-based non-profit that provides healthy food to local children in need.

The inventory of available art represents the wide repertoire of Gaffrey’s multi-dimensional works including landscapes, flora and wildlife inspired by the local landscape of South Walton. The celebrated artist uses pure acrylic paints and palette knifes to create the highly texturized masterpieces that are now found in galleries and venues across the United States.

“Art is about giving and sharing a message to enrich lives,” said Christy Milliken," Director of the Justin Gaffrey Studio Gallery. “As a gallery we believe in the efforts of Food For Thought and the way a simple basic need can fulfill and enrich a child's life to succeed. This is not about being charitable minded for us, it is about doing the right thing for our community. Giving is the easy part, the fruit of success will come full circle as our future generation shares their gifts and talents with our world.”

Justin Gaffrey & Tiffany Shelton

“We are honored by Justin's generous donation of such an expansive collection of his work,” adds Tiffanie Shelton, Founder of Food for Thought Outreach Inc. “His contribution will make a significant impact on our service capabilities. It is such a beautiful thing to see local events like this come together to directly support the needs of the community, and we are grateful to all the partners who have helped make this possible. The ART of Giving event will help Food For Thought continue to support the growing demand for our services.” 

Founded in 2010, the mission of Food for Thought is to enable area children to focus on their development and education by removing the fear of food insecurity. Public schools receive government assistance to provide breakfast and lunch for these children on school days, but when school is out on the weekends, they often do not have access to healthy meals. Through volunteers and donations, Food for Thought provides a simple backpack filled with healthy, easy-to-prepare food for eligible children to take home over the weekend. The organization has recently expanded to serve both Walton and Okaloosa counties. 

"We are so excited about collaborating on this event with Justin Gaffrey because it marries two elements our 30A community embraces—a love for art and a spirit of service,” explained Britt Matthews, Realtor and PR and Marketing Director at Beachy Beach 30A Real Estate. “As a community-minded company, Beachy Beach 30A is thrilled to be a part of new and creative ways to spread the mission of Food for Thought." 

Tickets for ART of Giving are available for advance purchase at www.xorbia.com/e/fto/the-art-of-giving or at the door the night of the event (sales permitting). For additional information regarding Food For Thought, please visit www.foodforthoughtfl.org or email info@foodforthoughtfl.org.

Justin Gaffrey is a long-time resident of Walton County and voted 2005 South Walton Artist of the Year. Gaffrey’s art is instantly recognizable with his deeply textured technique and vibrant colors. His viewing of Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” first inspired him to employ the medium and multi-dimensional style he’s known for today. He works exclusively with acrylic paints, mostly using a palette knife. His art reflects the natural beauty of his surroundings along Scenic Highway 30A. Justin’s paintings grace the walls of various venues throughout the country, including our own Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. View Justin's work at Justin Gaffrey Studio & Gallery in Blue Mountain Beach, the Seaside Gallery, or see selections online at Justin Gaffrey Studio & Gallery.