Renowned landscape artist to host benefit auction for VCU's Rice Environmental Center

By Pamela DiSalvo Lepley

RICHMOND, Va. – Dr. Baxter Perkinson, noted watercolor artist and founder of Virginia’s largest dental practice, will hold an auction of 50 of his works to benefit Virginia Commonwealth University’s Inger and Walter Rice Center for Environmental Life Sciences, Saturday, Oct. 4 at 10620 Cherokee Road. 

The original watercolors were inspired by the Rice Center, a 364-acre living laboratory of old growth forests and diverse aquatic habitats along the James River in Charles City County. 

Dr. Perkinson began his artistic career 22 years ago.  He prefers to create his images spontaneously, rather than beginning with sketches.  Dr. Perkinson never has sold a watercolor for personal profit, instead donating his works to benefit various philanthropies.  It is estimated that his paintings have raised about $4.5 million for charities.

A VCU alumnus, Dr. Perkinson also is a clinical professor at the VCU Dental School and is Rector of the VCU Board of Visitors. 

The auction is open to the public, but tickets are required.  Check-in for the auction begins at 5:30 p.m., and cocktail buffet begins at 6 p.m., followed by the live auction at 7 p.m.  Guest auctioneers include:

• The Honorable and Mrs. George Allen, United States Senate

• Bill Bevins, host, Lite 98 Wake-up Show

• Lane Casadonte, WTVR TV6, sports director

• Gene Cox, WWBT TV12, news co-anchor

• Lisa Schaffner, WRIC TV8, news co-anchor

• The Honorable Belle Wheelan, secretary of education, Commonwealth of Virginia

• Walter Witschey, director, Science Museum of Virginia

To purchase tickets, call 804-827-0880, or visit http://www.vcu.edu/auction/ for more information.