Local artists donated their unique snowboard designs to an annual online auction that will bring much-needed funds to the La Plata County Humane Society.
The Powder Hounds Online Art Auction has been raising funds for the nonprofit for five years, raising nearly $50,000.
“It’s two events in one,” said Humane Society spokeswoman Cassidy Crisp. “The money will go toward giving us waterproof bedding and a new transport vehicle.”
Crips said the new transport vehicle will ensure pets entering the Humane Society will be adopted even if the shelter is full in Durango.
“Since we’re so full, we can transfer our pets in the van to other places like Golden and Boulder to find them families,” she said.
The first of the two events to raise money for the Humane Society is the snowboard auction. Since 2018, local artists are given a donated, decommissioned snowboard with which to forge their personal designs to be auctioned off.
“We have 18 boards this year and 18 artists,” Crisp said. “We actually have a few high school artists from Durango and some artists from here (Humane Society). They have two months to work on the boards out of the kindness of their own hearts. They all have very different styles.”
Those interested in checking out the snowboards before bidding can view them from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St. The auction will then continue online until May 11.
The snowboards will have QR codes that can be scanned, Crisp said. Vinyl Lust Band will provide live music.
The second part of the fundraiser is the Powder Pets Photo Contest, which will begin Saturday and run concurrently with the snowboard auction.
“It can be a photo of any pet taken in the snow,” Crisp said. “We once had an entry of a pet alpaca.”
Those who enter the contest have a chance to win a series of prizes, including donated items from Creature Comforts, Pet Haus, and pranaDOGS Behavior & Rehab Center.
“It’s $10 to enter and $1 to vote on the photos,” Crisp said. “One of the prizes is a round of golf at The Glacier (Club). The top prize is a snowboard painting of the photo of the pet in the snow, which is really cool. Ray Phillips does the painting.”
The Powder Hounds Online Art Auction is the brainchild of internationally renowned artist Phillips and his partner, artist Wendy Niziol.
“It’s just a really fun way to get people involved with our community,” Crisp said. “We’re all so thankful we could make it come to life again.”
molsen@durangoherald.com
