Fine Art Auction will also raise funds for SPCA

Update: Due to dwindling ticket sales organizers have made the difficult decision to reschedule their inaugural annual Fine Art Auction that was planned  for Aug. 23 so that it can be the enticing event they envision. It will now be postponed for a Spring 2026 date still to be determined. 

Cowichan Valley artist Don Moss, alongside his creative peers Rory MacDonald, and Beth Macleod will be hosting a special inaugural Fine Art Auction at Unsworth Vineyards on Aug. 23, with a portion of all art sales being donated to Cowichan & District SPCA.

“We are very excited to host our first event at Unsworth Vineyards and hope to collaborate with other similar venues on the island as schedules permit,” said Moss.

This event, which they intend to become an annual one, will feature a carefully curated collection of 48 works from some of the region’s most celebrated local artists including Rory MacDonald, Beth MacLeod, Gloria S. Daly, and Moss, who will have a total of 15 pieces in the auction.

Moss has been professionally painting and creating sculpture for the last 15 years. Moss, who has lived in Lake Cowichan for the past five years, said when he first began painting he worked with oils, then eventually added acrylic paints. When sculpting he works with local marble such as B.C. slate and granite as well as local B.C. species of wood such as red and yellow cedar, fir, and some birch.

Moss, who has been a frequent visitor to the vineyard, felt their new tasting room, now the largest in the valley, would be a perfect fit, and notes that the manager Karen is first class with customer service.

“Our motivation was to deliver an exciting experience to both the art buyer, the collector, as well as the facility owner, collaboratively making the event both exciting from the live auction atmosphere to enjoying the most wonderful environment of the vineyard tasting wines, and nibbling cheese all while purchasing original fine art,” said Moss.

Guests will sip a complimentary glass of Unsworth wine and sample some artisan cheese during the auction which will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. To get a glimpse of the art up for auction visit theauctioneer.ca/Unsworth-Vineyards-Auction. Tickets, which are $35, are limited to 100 available. To get yours visit www.unsworthvineyards.com/product/The-Fine-Art-Auction-at-Unsworth-Vineyards.

Five per cent of the proceeds ill be donated to help animals through the Cowichan & District SPCA’s essential animal welfare programs.

“We are believers in the fact that we are providing a very exclusive event for people and this is what we need to purchase some very exclusive artworks and raise money for a noble cause with the SPCA,” said Moss. “Whether you’re a seasoned collector or simply seeking an inspiring night out in the heart of Cowichan Valley wine country, this is a chance to be part of something truly special — he launch of a new cultural tradition at Unsworth.”