What is absentee bidding?
If you are unable to attend the art auction in person, Bemis Center Assistant Director, Jeremy Stern, will place an absentee silent bid in your place during the silent auction.

How does the bidding process work?
Select the MAXIMUM amount that you would like to bid on an artwork. Jeremy will start your bidding at the opening bid amount, and will only raise your bid by the minimum increment of $25. Additional bids on your behalf will only be placed if there are competing bids, and only up to your agreed upon MAXIMUM bid amount.

What if the bidding stops before my maximum bid?
If the bidding does not reach your stated maximum bid, you win the artwork at the final bidding price. This could potentially be as small as the minimum bid, or any amount up to, but not exceeding your maximum bid.

What happens if the bidding goes over my maximum bid?
Jeremy will stop bidding on your behalf. So to ensure a successful bid, please consider the highest maximum bid possible.

Does the absentee bidding process apply to the Silent and Live auction?
You may place an absentee bid on any item in the auction. Bids for the live auction will be placed by Bemis Center Executive Director, Mark Masuoka. Items featured in the ‘Live’ auction are labeled as “LIVE AUCTION ” on this website.

Will my absentee bid on Live auction items, increase by the minimum of $25, as in the Silent auction?
No. The Live auction is conducted by a professional auctioneer who makes an on-the-spot determination of what the next bid should be. He will call out new, reasonable increments to the audience, based on the lot at hand. Our responsibility to you is to bid conservatively up by the minimum increase for that particular lot as it is called out to the audience, up to your maximum bid.

When will I know if my bid was successful?
A Bemis Center representative will e-mail you on the night of the auction after all bids have closed. If you had the winning bid, you will be charged that night for your purchase. Arrangements for pick-up, delivery or shipping of the artwork will be made the following week through a Bemis Center representative.

Please follow these simple steps to start your absentee bidding:

1. Please click on the absentee button located at the bottom of each artwork page and include the following information:

Name:
Address:
City, State, Zip:
Telephone: (Day/Evening)
E.mail:
Artist Name:
Title of work:
Your MAXIMUM bid:

Example:

Bob Smith
1234 Winner Street
Omaha, NE 68111
winner@artwork.com
Daytime ph: 402.333.3333, evening: 402.444.4444
Andy Warhol
Signed Ephemera
$21,500

2. Address the e-mail to jeremy@bemiscenter.org and press send.

3. Jeremy Stern will call you back to confirm your bid information and to collect credit card information. NO ABSENTEE BID IS VALID WITHOUT CREDIT CARD INFORMATION.

4. Sit back, relax and wait for the “You’re a winner!” e-mail on Saturday, November 17th!

All bids must be submitted before 5:00 p.m., Saturday, November 17th, in order to be eligible for absentee bidding.

For more information contact Jeremy Stern at 402.341.7130 x 13, or jeremy@bemiscenter.org .