At the next Second Saturday ArtWalk in St. Petersburg, they all go on the auction block at the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum on The Deuces. Every penny raised (although most likely these works will raise more than simply pennies) for Woodson Warriors scholarships.
The Woodson Warriors scholarships go to college-bound students who live in St. Petersburg's underserved communities, and the Woodson director, Terri Lipsey Scott, selects the recipients.
Bunker chose to paint and donate these works because "she believes social change happens one person" at a time, Brenda McMahon, the head of the Gulfport artist collective ArtJones — of which Bunker is part — said.
In total, the paintings could raise $60,000 for scholarships. On average, tuition at at Florida public university costs about $10,000 per semester (that's tuition, room, meal plan, books and transportation), so if the auction brings the expected value for each painting, the proceeds could fund three full years of college.
Bunker has already pre-sold some of her work, which has brought in $13,000 for the scholarship fund.
Through the end of February, you can see the paintings at the Mahaffey Theatre, but they'll hang in the Carter Woodson throughout March.
Second Saturday ArtWalk at the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum | 2240 9th Ave. S., St. Petersburg | Mar. 9: 5-8 p.m. | 727-323-1104 | woodsonmuseum.org
This article appears in Feb 21-28, 2019.