Party to stimulate many senses with auctioned art and tasty treats

"It was a chocolate party originally," Matt Genchur, a Conservancy staff member, said about the event's beginning five years ago.

Last year, the art auction was added to increase interest. This year, 37 local and national artists donated works, and the money generated will fund the ClearWater Conservancy's mission to protect the environment.

The auction will feature a wide range of art, from smaller, less expensive pieces to higher, nationally-known works, said Jennifer Shuey, executive director of the Conservancy.

Although the art spans a variety of mediums, including pottery, painting and photography, all works involve a nature theme.

"There are a lot of artists who paint nature or draw their inspiration from nature," Darlene Weener, co-chair of the art auction, said. "There is one school of thought that says that nature is what inspires all of art because of color and light."

To call the event an auction sounds too formal to the organizers, though.

"It's really a party," Weener said. "From 7 to 10, people can come and eat as much chocolate as they want. Then all during the evening, in between bites of chocolate, you can go and bid on art."

Twenty-seven different local establishments are contributing chocolate for the occasion. The types of desserts include mousses, brownies, ice cream and everything in between.

"It's a chocolate buffet for the most part," Genchur said.

Live music will be performed by local jazz band Jazz-Ma-Phone, and meringue dancing and lessons will occur throughout the evening.

"The night is a night of sensual delights," Weener said. "The chocolate, and then the art, is a feast for the eyes."

For the Love of Art and Chocolate runs from 7 to 10 p.m. tomorrow. Tickets can be bought at the door for $25.