The ninth annual ARTcetera was held on Friday, September 28^thin the Harbor Side Ballroom of the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.  Joining the ARTcetera team as co-chairs, Mary Ellen Owens and Mitch Sill led the charge to raise a net of $167,000 for the Solvay Compassionate Care Fund, which will care for the hospice house and help ensure that it will be available to all patients regardless of their ability to pay.

Over 300 attendees celebrated the completion of the hospice house project by enjoying ice cold martinis from an original ice sculpture created by Paul Madsen while perusing a wide selection of original jewelry and regional art as well as a wide variety of merchandise and services that had been donated to the silent and super silent auctions.

Chef Angie Barth out did herself again with a sumptuous meal featuring lobster-tail broiled with candied ginger and mango butter, chef-carved tenderloin of beef, and blackened Cajun grouper and pasta primavera. A delicate chocolate tulip cup filled with raspberry mousse, French roast coffee and variety of fine cordials paved the way into the main event of the evening. 

Auctioneer Kurt Johnson once again conducted the audience through a lively auction that included several one-of-a-kind dining experiences, vacation opportunities, original art, luxury merchandise and a two-story custom-built log cabin playhouse.