The upstairs room at the MACC in 2024 was filled with Micro Masterpieces hung for viewing. Photo courtesy of Cheryl Gleason, Rancho Cordova Arts president

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - This year marks the eighth Micro Masterpieces Auction in Rancho Cordova. The event grew from the Rancho Cordova Arts wish for a fundraiser for the nonprofit organization. Fiber artist Frances Dack was on the Rancho Cordova Arts Board then and mentioned a “6x6” fundraiser put on in Rochester, New York, where she used to live. 

The first year, the art was sold upstairs at the Mills Station Arts & Culture Center (MACC).

“We had probably 60 to 70 pieces tops,” said the MACC’s Cheryl Gleason. “In this capacity, I’m not the art director at the MACC, I’m the president of Rancho Cordova Arts. It’s very confusing for people because they don’t know the difference between the MACC and Rancho Cordova Arts. Rancho Cordova Arts is its own nonprofit, versus the MACC. We just have (Micro Masterpieces) here at the MACC during our Rancho Cordova Arts members show.”  

Volunteers Carrie Markel, Jim Hunter and Marsha Mason, all artists, tackle the job of sorting art supplies to go out to teachers. Photo courtesy of Cheryl Gleason, Rancho Cordova Arts president

The first year’s sales netted $1,200; the second year $1,800. The third year, 2020, the figure was $4,200. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sales couldn’t be done in person. That caused the Micro Masterpieces Auction to move to an online platform and is how 32AuctionsOnline came to be.

“This year, artists donated over 500 Micro Masterpieces for our fundraiser,” said artist Marsha Mason, treasurer of Rancho Cordova Arts. Mason contributed 13. “Micro Masterpieces funds new art supplies for teachers from prekindergarten through grade 12 schools within Rancho Cordova. Last year, we gave over $20,000 in materials, which bought art experiences for 110 teachers and for over 5,500 kids.”

Dubbed on the auction flier as “Small Art for a Big Cause,” bidding starts online at 8 a.m. Monday, June 2 at https://www.32auctions.com/mmrca25 and ends at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 7.  On Thursday, June 5, the MACC opens for the weekend and the art pieces can be viewed in person upstairs at the MACC then and through June 7.

“Art is always best to look at in person,” Gleason said. “When you go on the auction site, you can ‘heart’ pieces so it’s like creating a wish list,” Gleason said. “The first bid always starts at $20 and then every time someone else bids, it adds $3 increments or you can put in a custom amount.” 

Artist Jim Hunter, who is on the Rancho Cordova Arts Board of Directors, said about Micro Masterpieces, “I think it’s one of the best programs around and especially with all of the cuts over the decades of arts in schools, it becomes more and more important as the years go by.” 

The upstairs room at the MACC in 2024 was filled with Micro Masterpieces hung for viewing. Photo courtesy of Cheryl Gleason, Rancho Cordova Arts president

Art teacher Carrie Markel recently retired. Her career involved teaching art students at Natomas Charter Performing and Fine Arts School. She volunteered to help with others to sort and separate the requested materials for the teachers.

“It was really fun, like Christmas,” Markel said. “We sorted and bagged for each teacher for their classroom.”

The response of teachers is stated well by Deanne Edwards, a teacher from Robert J. McGarvey Elementary School.

“You give so much to our community and ask for so little in return. You make our kids feel like stars and go above and beyond to make parents want to come to your community event. Because of you and all the art supplies that you donated to my class, our school open house was so far over the top and parents were so appreciative,” Edwards said. “The parents who got to come to the MACC open house were appreciative as well. I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Because of the supplies you donated, it was wonderful, and my kids felt like we were rock stars!”