Follies to go on the block.
By: Jennifer Potash
Writers Block, the experimental merger of art, architecture and gardening at an empty lot off Paul Robeson Place, will close this weekend.
The space contained half a dozen follies designed in partnership with local architects and noted writers and scholars.
Writers Block, which has hosted gatherings from private birthday parties to public events such as a centennial celebration for the poet Pablo Neruda, bids farewell with an auction of the distinctive follies on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m.
The auction will help the architects recoup their costs, about $150,000 in total, and additional money raised beyond the minimum bids will be donated to charity.
Opening bids will range from $2,000 for the lowest-cost folly up to $20,000.
One resident’s goal to add one of the follies to the Barbara Sigmund Park off Hamilton Avenue has fallen short.
Polly Burlingham, a master gardener who volunteers her time to keep the park in top shape, began a fund-raising campaign to bid on the Writers Block folly "Hands Together," that was created by Paul Sigmund, the late mayor’s husband and a professor at Princeton University, and architect John James Rivera.
The cedar wood structure features a lattice-like element opening toward the sky with an opening at the floor with four bamboo shoots.
While she received many phone calls expressing interest and a few pledges, Ms. Burlingham said she fell far short of the estimated $17,000 bid for "Hands Together."
Borough Engineer Carl Peters had examined the structure and found it appropriate for passive uses in the park.
For the folly to be located in a municipal park, Mr. Peters and Borough Administrator Robert Bruschi would require Mr. Rivera, the architect, to provide official drawings of the folly and its foundation and address ways to prevent children from using the folly as a climbing apparatus.
Undaunted, Ms. Burlingham said she will ask the architect to build another folly at a lower price.
Open to the public, admission to Saturday’s auction costs $20, which covers the expenses of the auction and will be refunded to those making winning bids.
Registration starts at 2 p.m. and the bidding begins at 3 p.m. Advance registration or absentee bids must be made by 6 p.m. tonight. Forms may be downloaded from the Writers Block Web site, www.princetonwritersblock.com. The completed forms can be faxed to (908) 359-4262.
The rain date for the auction will be Sunday.
Sweta Prasad, a Princeton-based watercolor artist, was inspired by Writers Block to create a collection of 16- by-25-inch paintings based on the follies that will be offered at a set price during the auction.
Other items up for auction include an author’s package offering an original poem by Paul Muldoon and signed books by some of the Writers Block authors.
David Rago, of Rago Auctions of Lambertville, will lead the charity auction. Mediterra Restaurant will provide catering for the event.
Parking is available at the Spring Street garage, with entrances off both Wiggins and Spring streets.
For more information about the auction, contact the Princeton Design Guild at (908) 359-4211 ext. 3.