Going, going ... but still to come

All eyes were on the man wearing the top hat, surrounded by office equipment, furniture, computer monitors and art of all sorts. The scene might have passed for a performance art installation. And in a way, it was. This was the inaugural First Friday arts auction, co-sponsored by the Arts Factory and the Contemporary Arts Collective. It is an attempt to add more hype to the monthly downtown arts festival. “It will be an opportunity to create awareness for the artists,” said Beate Kirmse, the arts collective’s gallery director. On this night, the scene was upbeat as auctioneer Robert Hawks entertained with his vocal prodding, finally reflecting the spirit of a yard sale. “Everything on that table for $1,” he exclaimed. “I gotta go!”