More than 100 pieces of sculpture, photography, paintings, prints, and ceramic works by USC art faculty and students will go to the highest bidder at the 51st-annual USC Art Auction April 18. The popular event will begin at 7 p.m. at the McGee Auction Gallery, at 725 Meeting St. in West Columbia, which has donated its gallery and services.

A preview party will begin at 6 p.m., and art will be on display beginning at 1 p.m. that day for public viewing. The event is free and open to the public.

Auctioneers for the 2006 auction will be Carroll McGee and Holli McGee Roberts. Mana Hewitt, director of USC's McMaster Gallery, organized the auction.

The event is sponsored by the Department of Art in the College of Arts and Sciences. Proceeds from the auctioned works are divided between the artists and the USC art scholarship and gallery fund.

Credit cards and checks will be accepted.

The 2005 auction raised more than $19,000, up from $16,000 in 2004.

For more information, call Hewitt at 7-7480 or 7-4236.

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