Photos: Art Conspiracy 8 attendees bust out their wallets for a good cause

The event raised more than $30,000 for two local charities.

Art Conspiracy 8

Photos by Alexandra Olivia

DALLAS — The turnout to Art Conspiracy 8 on Saturday was surprisingly large. Event traffic clogged the remote street in Dallas' Design District where an inconspicuous warehouse played venue and art auction hall. The entry line spanned a sizeable portion of the block, but that did not turn away anxious art and music enthusiasts.

Art Conspiracy annually invites 150 artists, chosen by a lottery, to spontaneously create a work on an 18-inch by 18-inch wooden canvas that is auctioned off in support of local charities. Artists, which for the most part tend to be local, can use whichever mediums they want as long as they complete their project within the 4-hour time limit.

As one can imagine, the stipulations make for a diverse collection — almost as diverse as the crowd that showed up to get their hands on a one-of-a-kind piece.

Photo by Alexandra Olivia

Dallas Architect James Warton's piece sells at Art Conspiracy 8 for $1,050 benefiting Girls Rock Dallas and W.T. White Ceramics Program in Dallas.

From cats and clowns to photography and prints, all the artworks went like hot cakes from the auction stand, where volunteers promoted and priced the pieces. Bidding usually started between $20 and $50, skyrocketing into the hundreds for the most desirable works. "Lil Tex" by James Warton, which featured a young girl winking in black and white with a red star on her cheek, ended up selling for the highest bid of the evening at $1,050. In total, Art Conspiracy raised more than $30,000 for Girls Rock Dallas and W.T. White Academy of Visual and Performing Arts, according to Meagan Dahl, marketing communications director for Art Conspiracy.

The environment inside the warehouse was energetic as patrons flitted about, gawking at art. Despite the incredible turnout, beer lines remained punctual, keeping hipsters from loosing their cool. And the eye was always entertained by the aesthetics, be it on the auction blocks or the warehouse walls where digital artwork was projected. The only downfall was the building’s acoustics, which made the musical performances echo overwhelmingly. However, a pair of earplugs is a tiny price to pay for the amount of good accomplished at the event.

“All of the contributions, from the volunteers to the incredible artists and bands, as well as the community coming out and supporting our organization, have been overwhelming,” said Rachel Michaud, executive director of Girls Rock Dallas.