FARMINGTON — Ed Westgate’s workshop is brimming with collections and materials, along with creations made of recycled items.

He doesn’t often sell his work but three of Westgate’s unique pieces will be available during the 4th Annual Fine Art Auction on Friday at Franklin Memorial Hospital. Sponsored by the Fairbanks School Neighborhood Association, a preview of items and silent auction begins at 5 p.m. and a live art auction starts at 6 p.m.

About 50 local artists are putting their creations on the block with more than 80 items included in the live and silent auctions, said Meredith Ranger. She and Cindy Kimble are again coordinating the event as a fundraiser for the Fairbanks School. Adrian Harris will serve as auctioneer and Paul Mills will add interesting historical comments.

The auction will include several Charles Sawyer prints and a portrait of Twigsnapper Ashley Parlin, Kimble said.

These are added to a variety of photographs, paintings, pottery and handmade items such as baskets and quilts, Ranger said. During last year’s economic slump, the group decided to add some artistic creations that were also useful. These join creative wood pieces such as a small cherry log with two drawers made by Mark Simpson, something useful for keeping jewelry on a bureau, or an herb-drying rack created by Westgate, she said.

Antique square nails, a mink skinner board cut in two, porch ballasts and an old piece of cast iron make up the herb-drying rack, Westgate said Wednesday. This along with a cabinet created with 100-year-old shelf brackets, old barn boards and glass shelves from old medicine cabinets and another made from a utensil drawer and decorated with pieces of silver cutlery will all go on the block.

Westgate learned to make things by “making do without a lot of money,” as he helped his grandfather create more standard pieces like bookshelves in the late 1950s, he said.

A firefighter, his grandfather would augment his income by collecting old hinges, knobs and wood to make something for someone. When Westgate was old enough, he learned to help, he said.

Now he collects items from box lots at auctions, yard sales and friends who know his collections result in pieces of art.

“I get an idea and start, then it sometimes fizzles,” he said. With a little more thought, he realizes “I could do this with that,” and a piece comes to life.

He likes to keep his creations, including what he calls a “loggers doorbell” created with antique carriage hinges, a mink skinning board and an old logger head, he said.

The Fairbanks School Neighborhood Association raises funds to improve the property. Money from the auction will help with the monthly mortgage, landscaping and a small addition for storage, Ranger said. The Fairbanks School houses a community meeting room, the Care and Share Food Pantry and a Life Enrichment Advancing People office.

Tickets for Friday’s auction are available at Sugarwood Gallery, Devaney, Doak and Garrett Booksellers, the Calico Patch or from Elena Barker at 778-4349 and Mary Frank at 778-4695.

abryant@sunjournal.com