Sketches going, going, gone

A mistake in valuing three artworks by Richard Meier, architect of the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, and other award-winning architects, at $500 instead of $5,000 helped Brad Smith get the auction deal of a lifetime.

Smith, principal with Newport Beach-based architect firm Taylor & Associates Architects, was one of about 250 guests at a live and silent auction held by Costa Mesa-based Stonemill Design Center, which netted more than $25,000 to benefit Adult Day Care Services of Orange County.

The auction titled Design 2 Care was the brainchild of Steve Francis who helped other businesses at Stonemill to raise money for the Huntington Beach-based center.

Smith snagged the three artworks for about $300 Thursday.

“I felt like I went to an architectural estate sale,” he said. “I found so many wonderful finds relating to masters of the design profession,” he added.

The artworks, created by Aldo Rossi, Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown, besides Meier were donated by Beverly Russell, a former editor with Interiors magazine.

But the main reason for the design auction was to “give back to the community and this was one of the best ways to do it,” Francis said.

When his stepfather was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, he became aggressive while losing his memory.

“I was in denial about my stepfather for a long time,” Francis said. “There’s a stigma attached to having Alzheimer’s and people don’t want to admit it because they think it’s hereditary.”

The Adult Day Services runs the center in partnership with Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian.

The center offers support to about 300 families in Orange County, helping caregivers of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia get a break while staff watch the patient.

“There’re so many families that are dealing with Alzheimer’s, and we want to reach out to everyone, not just those who come to our center,” said Allison Cato, Adult Day spokeswoman.

About 100 items were donated to the auction by businesses, including a set of artworks from Meier and furniture and accessories by big-name designers.

“It’s a great way to bring designers together and help the center,” said Julie Robbins of Carrier Johnson, a Stonemill tenant. “Hope it’s the first of many.”

Most of the items donated for auction were sold, Francis said.