Best Kept Secret: Collectible Art Available at Coastside Doctors Without Borders Show

In it's sixth year, the Coastside Doctors Without Borders art fundraiser, running through Nov. 14, has become a highly anticipated event. This year, 43 local artists have donated their art to help raise money for the international organization that works in nearly 70 countries providing medical aid to those most in need regardless of their race, religion, or political affiliation.

This year's show, the largest ever, went up at Pasta Moon in their new Music Box Lounge on Oct. 24. Many visitors from throughout the Bay Area who dine at Pasta Moon have been entering their bids on the silent auction bid-sheets.

However, we are noticing that Coastside residents who don't visit Pasta Moon as often, may not be aware of the show. This is well-kept secret — the opportunity to pick up some beautiful art, by local artisans, and support a good cause at the same time.

For example, Robert Buelteman from Montara has a piece in the show. Robert's works typically sell for more than $2,000 and are in public and private collections including Yale University's Art Museum, Bank of America, Stanford University and Nikon.

Susan Friedman, who is on faculty at the University of California, Santa Cruz is an acclaimed filmmaker and photographer whose still work is collected by the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Oakland Museum, and the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris has a mixed-media piece in this year's show. Ms. Friedman has recently shown her work featuring horses at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

There are many more up-and-coming artists whose thoughtful interpretations on this year's theme, transformation, are featured in the show.

The bids were opened on October 24th at a Gala Event. Bidding will continue through 8 pm on Wednesday, November 14th when the closing event, including a live auction and raffle for items totalling more than $2,000, will take place.

You can place your bid by visiting Pasta Moon anytime during normal business hours. Though there is no requirement to eat or drink there, you will enjoy the menu and ambiance of the bar. They serve cocktails, wine and beer and a nice variety of appetizers and thin-crust pizzas. Simply view the work in the lounge area and use the pens attached to the silent auction clipboard next to each piece to enter your silent bid. Who knows? You could walk away on November 14th with a beautiful piece of art, knowing your contribution goes fully to the Doctors Without Borders organization.

If you can't attend on November 14th, no worries. Your information will be captured by the bid sheet for contacting you after the show closes, if you are the highest bidder. However, if you aren't there at the November 14th closing, you are going to miss a great party with live music, and you won't be able to make last-minute entries. Judging from past years, it's likely to get quite rowdy and animated during the closing!