Members of the Echo Valley Art Group have a passion for their craft, but they also have a problem. Years of creating art has created an overabundance of artwork and limited storage space. To remedy the issue, the members host an annual art auction not only to clean out their studios, but also to provide the public with access to affordable, quality art. This year's Echo Valley Art Group Art Auction will be held on Sunday, Sept. 19, at Rader Park, 1899 Apostle Way, Lancaster. The grounds will open at noon for browsing, and the auction will begin at 1 p.m.

"The auction is a fun, relaxed event," said Carol Toner Shane, an artist with Echo Valley. "It's a nice afternoon to enjoy art in a beautiful setting."

Hundreds of works by 20 artists will be up for auction at the event. Artists will be on site with their art, and Shane encourages attendees to talk to them about their work. "Every item will be marked with a minimum bid, and a lot of the art goes for the minimum bid," Shane explained. "Some gets hyped up and there's a lot of competition between bidders, so that's always fun, too."

Along with the auction, the event will feature live music and a free children's art project from 12:30 to 2 p.m. for those ages 6 to 12. "Susan Ulrich, the new high school art teacher at Lancaster Catholic High School, will be working with the kids on the project," Shane said, noting that the project will keep children occupied while parents browse the artwork. The event will also include food for purchase.

Echo Valley is a group of professional artists who meet regularly and exhibit art together, Shane said. "We currently have 23 members, and our membership is limited to 25," she stated. "We have a wide range of artists in our group. Our youngest member is in her 20s, and our oldest is in his 90s." Members include Ann DeLaurentis, Rob Evans, Becky Blosser, Dick Whitson, Brant Schuller and Susan Gottlieb.

The group holds the auction not only to get art into the hands of more people, but also to support young artists in the county. Proceeds will support local youth art exhibits and will fund events such as bus trips to major museums for local students.

Shane said the event is a casual, low-key way to enjoy art. "There's no pressure," she explained. "You can just come to look around, eat lunch and talk with the artists. We love talking to people about our art."

The event is also a way to showcase original art that's affordable, she said, adding, "We started this event because we believe as artists that original art enhances your life and makes your life better."

For more information on the Echo Valley Art Group Art Auction, visit http://www.echovalleyartgroup.com.