"Soul" is the theme for Fredericks Sculpture Museum's gala

A familiar voice will make the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum’s annual gala one to be remembered, as Sherrie Williams is the special guest at “Saints, Sinners and Soul,” the museum’s seventh benefit extravaganza.

It’s planned for 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 30 at Saginaw Valley State University, and is named for sculptor Marshall Fredericks’ noted piece, Saints and Sinners, which is located at the Midland Center for the Arts.

The evening kicks off with a silent art auction from 5:30 to 8 p.m., where patrons have the opportunity to bid on and purchase more than 40 works of art by regional artists who have donated their work to benefit the museum. The art can be viewed in advance at the museum’s website. That’s followed by a live auction hosted by Midland auctioneer Mike Furlo. Southern cuisine will round out the evening.

Sharrie Williams’ outsize talent will also grace the gala, with her signature vocal and musical style of “Rockin’ Gospel Blues.” A native of Saginaw, Williams has made her name on the soul music scene.

The Marshall Fredericks Sculpture Museum also will open the doors to its new exhibition the same evening, which is titled Harry Bertoia, Abstract Drawings, and features 30 works by designer and artist Harry Bertoia, who died in 1978. His talents included jewelrymaking, printmaking, furniture design, sculpting and philosophy, as he drew from the beauty of nature to push modern art beyond its origins into an exploration of the senses.

Tickets to "Saints, Sinners and Soul" are $80 for one person, or $150 for a couple, and can be purchased by contacting the museum, or at the door. Proceeds from the gala support programs at the museum, located on the campus of SVSU.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Laurie Allison, Marshall Fredericks Sculpture Museum