Hand turned wood vase, made from Spalted Tamarind. This one-of-a-kind piece of art was handmade by Jeffrey Wilhite.

Jeff is the Executive Director of Family Promise and a fledgling wood turner.

Trying to create a unique approach to our annual event, Jeff created the "Art-Raiser for Housing" auction wherein, we could celebrate the vast amount of talent in the community.

This vase is made from Spalted Tamarind. Its rich and beautiful veining makes this one-of-a-kind turning stand out.

Jeff says, …” it truly is a one-of-a-kind vase, as there is no way on earth I could duplicate it!”

Hope you enjoy it.

Framed Magnolia Flower Porcelain Plate

YoleĚ Bona Porcelain Artist

Opening Bid: $ 65.00

We are so proud and honored to offer one-off, original, hand painted porcelain framed tile plates from the late artist Yole Bona of Akron.

Porcelain painting developed over 2,000 + year ago and these pieces were fired at over 1,350 degrees. 

These plates were professionally framed thru Art Trends Custom Framing of Atlanta, Georgia.

We hope you will  bid and treasure these magnificent plates.

Thank you to the Bona Family for donating this work to Family Promise!

Ink Etching of Mickey Mouse

Artist Katherine McEnteer, Rincon Georgia

Opening Bid:  $100

Katherine McEnteer, formerly of Akron, Ohio resides in Rincon, Georgia with her husband Reed.

Katherine is a Pre-School Teacher, on base at Hunter Army Airfield in Savanah, Georgia.

A life-long enthusiast of pencil and ink etchings, Katie is a huge fan of all characters Disney.  She often visits Disney World in Florida where she will enjoy time in one of the many parks and just draw.

She does her etchings as a means of relaxation and to re-charge her batteries for her teaching responsibilities on base.

Thank you Katie for donating your etching to Family Promise!

Old Schoolhouse Door

A Framed Giclee Print by Artist Tom Jackson

Open Bid:   $200

Artist Tom Jackson grew up in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio and graduated from the University of Akron, BFA Drawing and Painting in 1972.

His current full-time work as an artist was preceded by a forty-year aviation career, serving twenty-two years as a United States Air Force pilot and eighteen years

Flying internationally as a Boeing 747 Captain.

Tom Exhibits regularly in Northeast Ohio juried events.  He is a signature member of the Akron Society of Artists and his painting “End of the Line” was awarded the first place in the 2026 member exhibition.  He has been accepted five times for the Butler Institute of American Art Mid-Year national exhibit in Youngstown.

A Giclee print is a professional inkjet printing method designed for reproducing fine art and photographic images with exceptional detail and color accuracy.

Unlike standard inkjet printing, giclee emphasizes archival quality, color fidelity, and longevity, making it suitable for gallery and museum-quality reproductions.

Tom we thank you both for your service to the nation and the art donation.

Life needs Flowers Gardening Basket

Open Bid:   $75

Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths oh my!

Make your Spring 2027 filled with beautiful colors, and while you wait, enjoy beautiful hand painted and fired porcelain and clay tiles.

These beautiful ceramic clay leaf relief creations are from Porcelain Artist Yole´Bona and her daughter Maria Bona.

Also includes garden tools, knee pads, gloves, and bulb planter.

Handmade Pottery and Jewelry

Erin Vollmer, Potter

Open Bid:   $70

Erin is a local potter here in Akron, Ohio.

To Erin, making pottery is more fun  than her day job!

As you can see, she is a very talented potter and makes beautiful plant pots, jewelry, and mugs.

Erin says on line,” she is your favorite pot dealer!”🙂.

Thank you Erin for donating some of your work to Family Promise!

Alcohol Ink Box

Opening Bid:  $30.00

Vanessa Lee Abraham — Artist in Fused Glass and Alcohol Ink

Vanessa Lee Abraham is a contemporary visual artist known for her work in fused glass and alcohol ink, creating pieces that blend beauty with spiritual and meditative themes.

Artistic Journey

Vanessa began exploring her creative side in her forties, initially experimenting with digital art before moving to more hands-on mediums. A pivotal moment came when she received homemade coasters from her aunt, introducing her to alcohol inks, and later a glass jewelry kit from her sister-

in-law, sparking her interest in fusing glass. Inspired by her artistic mother and creative father, she embraced these crafts as a way to connect with her own potential.

Style and Themes

Her work is deeply influenced by spirituality, the micro and macro of the universe, and the idea of transcendent spaces. She describes her glass pieces as galaxies or stones from otherworldly realms, and her alcohol ink works as otherworldly landscapes or seascapes. The process is meditative, requiring her to relinquish control and listen to her intuition.

Mediums and Techniques

• Fused Glass: Often using dichroic and iridescent glass infused with chatoyant effects that shift with light and perspective .
• Alcohol Ink: Known for vibrant, fluid patterns and organic textures.
• Gazing Glass: A signature series of pieces designed to inspire self-awareness, introspection, and mindfulness. These can be worn as rings, bracelets, brooches, or used as sensory stones

Thank you to Vanessa for your support of Family Promise

Framed Hand Painted Porcelain Plate - Cardinals

Yole Bona Porcelain Artist

Opening Bid: $65.00

We are so proud and honored to offer one-off, original, hand painted porcelain framed tile plates from the late artist Yole Bona of Akron.

Porcelain painting developed over 2,000 + year ago and these pieces were fired at over 1,350 degrees. 

These plates were professionally framed thru Art Trends Custom Framing of Atlanta, Georgia.

We hope you will  bid and treasure these magnificent plates.

Thank you to the Bona Family for donating this work to Family Promise!

Framed Hand Painted Fruit Porcelain Plate

Yole Bona Porcelain Artist

Opening Bid:65.00

We are so proud and honored to offer one-off, original, hand painted porcelain plates from the late artist Yole Bona of Akron.

Porcelain painting developed over 2,000 + year ago and these pieces were fired at over 1,350 degrees. 

These plates were professionally framed thru Art Trends Custom Framing of Atlanta, Georgia.

We hope you will  bid and treasure these magnificent plates.

Thank you to the Bona Family for donating this work to Family Promise!

Floral Table

Diana “Deeana” Atkinson

Open Bid:  $75.00

Created by floral artist Diana Atkinson, artist signature is “Deeana”, this antique table has been transformed into a beautiful floral design.

Place it in the living room, parlor, screened porch or garden, enjoy it where ever you place it.

It bears the Henri Matisse quote “ There are always flowers for those who want to see them”

Henri Matisse (1869–1954) was a French painter, printmaker, sculptor, and draughtsman, celebrated as one of the most influential figures of 20th‑century modern art,

Best known for his bold use of color and his leadership in the Fauvist movement.

Henri Émile Benoît Matisse was born on 31 December 1869 in Le Cateau‑Cambrésis, northern France, into a family of weavers.

He grew up in Bohain‑en‑Vermandois and initially studied law in Paris before abandoning it in 1891 to pursue art.

His first serious attempts at painting came in 1889 during a recovery from appendicitis, which he later described as “a kind of paradise”.

He studied at the Académie Julian under William‑Adolphe Bouguereau and also with Symbolist Gustave Moreau .

Artistic Career and Style

Matisse’s breakthrough came in the summers of 1904–1905, when bright light in southern France and influences from artists like Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Cézanne led to works of intense, non‑naturalistic color.

This period defined Fauvism, a movement that emphasized emotional expression over realism  His famous works from this era include Woman with a Hat (1905) and The Joy of Life (1906) .

Matisse sought “an art of balance, purity and serenity… like a good armchair” that would soothe the mind. He valued color as an expressive, emotional force rather than a mimicry of nature, and often simplified forms to convey mood and rhythm .

Legacy

Alongside Pablo Picasso, Matisse is regarded as one of the key figures who reshaped modern art. His mastery of color, drawing, and composition influenced generations of artists, and his works remain central to major museums worldwide .

In short: Henri Matisse was a pioneering modern artist whose career spanned over five decades, whose innovations in color and form redefined painting, and whose legacy endures as a model of

Thank you Dorothy Livecchi for donating this piece to Family Promise!

Painting of LeBron and Gloria James

Sylvia Sykes — Akron-Based Portrait Artist

Opening Bid:  $375

40"x 30"

Sylvia Sykes is an Akron, Ohio–based portrait artist whose work blends acrylic, oil, and digital mediums to create vibrant, human-centered art that celebrates community, identity, and the strength of women.

Her mission is to shift focus away from technology and toward people, using art as a tool for healing, connection, and self-reflection.

Artistic Focus and Style

Sykes often paints African American subjects, community narratives, and strong female figures, portraying them in both realism and caricature.

She uses bold colors and expressive outlines to create works that are visually striking and emotionally resonant.

Her subjects frequently reflect Black and Brown womanhood, community roles, and cultural pride.

Exhibitions and Recognition

• The Aunties (Summit Artspace, Horizon Gallery, 2024) — A BIPOC+ solo exhibition exploring the roles of aunties in Black and Brown communities, funded by the Vernon L. Odom Fund.
• The Book of Akron (Burton D. Morgan Gallery, 2023) — Part of the Akron Soul Train Artist in Residence program.
• Chroma (White Rabbit Galleries, 2024) — Group exhibit featuring vibrant, colorful works, including her piece Risk-Takers .
• Past group shows include DayGlo Show (Waterloo Arts, 2024) and People in Places with Things and Ideas (Summa Healing Art Gallery, 2024).

Studio & Gallery

Sykes operates Sylvia Paints, a studio and gallery in Barberton, OH, serving as both a personal workspace and a community art hub. Services include:

• Custom portraiture
• Acrylic shoe customization
• Art classes and Sip & Paint events
• Sales of fine art, handmade jewelry, greeting cards, and drinkware.

Thank you Sylvia for donating your artwork to Family Promise!

Akron Glass Works Pumpkin

Opening bid:  $35.00

This beautiful blown glass pumpkin created at Akron Glass Works in Akron, Ohio is a beautiful Fall decoration for any décor. Approximately 5 in. tall x 5 in. wide

The HOTTEST destination in Akron!

Shop for one-of-a-kind glass gifts, decor, and art pieces made right here in our studio.
Try a glass experience workshop in all types of glass: glassblowing, glass fusing, stained glass, and flameworking.

Special events - Glassblowing demonstrations - Private parties

Custom lighting, Stained glass, Awards, and Unity glass for weddings

We moved to 65 Glendale Ave. Akron 44302

Thank you to Sandra Holate Diehl for your support of Family Promise

“There is no place like home” Home Base Baseball Table

John Sarver, Artist

Open Bid:   $100.00

Babe Ruth, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Hank Aaron, Tanner Bibee, pick your favorite player and they all had home plate as the goal in every game.

Add Ohio High School Baseball Hall of Fame Coach John Sarver in the mix, and you can smell peanuts, and cracker jack!

John Sarver, a winning High School Baseball Coach for 30 years, inducted into the Ohio High School Baseball Hall of Fame in 2026, now retired, keeps the love of the game alive through his wood working skills.

Enjoy this handmade home plate table, complete with authentic wooden bat legs, and a miniature baseball field diorama inside, it is the unique addition to the baseball lovers special place.

The table is extremely creative as John used the handle end of each bat for the feet of the table!  That’s nothing to “balk” at -  which makes it a true “clean-up” with the bat!

Not a ‘bush league” addition  to your favorite spot.  “Back stop” your favorite beverage, bowl of chips, tv remote, or other memorabilia on home plate - not behind it!

OK, one more baseballism – This package is truly a “Grand slam” with added goodies such as an authentically signed Tanner Bibee baseball and assorted Guardians memorabilia.

Thank you John for donating this amazing piece of art.

Framed Hand Painted Floral Arrangement in Bowl Porcelain Tile

Yole Bona Porcelain Artist

Opening Bid: $65.00

We are so proud and honored to offer one-off, original, hand painted porcelain plates from the late artist YoleĚ Bona of Akron.

Porcelain painting developed over 2,000 + year ago and these pieces were fired at over 1,350 degrees. 

These plates were professionally framed thru Art Trends Custom Framing of Atlanta, Georgia.

We hope you will  bid and treasure these magnificent plates.

Thank you to the Bona Family for donating this work to Family Promise!

Travel in style! 5 sizes of suitcases (12", 18", 20", 24", 28"), expandable handbag and storage bag. Every size!

Relax and unwind with an at-home spa experience. Peel back the Lavender Wax to reveal smoother and softer skin in as little as 30 minutes, thanks to the quick and painless exfoliating effect of the paraffin wax.

Organize your workspace and life with this array of resources. Work tote for travel; snackle box for lunch!

Broadway is calling! Rock out with Abba at Playhouse Square. Enjoy (4) Loge tickets to Mama Mia!

Indulge as you enjoy this delicious chocolate package from a Cleveland Classic, Malley's Chocolates.

You will enjoy exclusive before-hours access, learn how we care for our animals and have the opportunity to participate in unique and interactive experiences*. This experience requires advanced reservations, space is limited.