By the time Joe Pray was pulled on stage, the canvas facing the audience attending Charlotte Public Schools Education Foundations Art Sale was hardly empty. Pray added a few brush strokes while brothers, Mike and Scott McMath entertained the crowd with an acoustic rock classic.

Pray was one of many in attendance who helped the duo, known as Empty Canvass, create a work of art in just an hour. Their piece netted the Education Foundation more than $400 as one of the first works of art sold at the inaugural auction.

This year, Empty Canvass will create something entirely new, again with the help of the community as they participate in the Education Foundation’s second art appreciation sale — Oktoberfest. Scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 18 in SOAR at AL!VE, Oktoberfest is an opportunity to bid on some great pieces of art donated the Education Foundation by Park West Gallery. Both silent and alive auctions will be held throughout the evening, which begins at 7 p.m. with a full art preview. Silent auction items will be located along EXPLORE, the walking path within AL!VE. Live auction pieces will be on display within SOAR.

Many of the pieces up for auction are currently on display at AL!VE, Charlotte City Hall and Fay’s Evelyn Bay.

Tickets to the event are $10 in advance and can be purchased from Education Foundation board members as well as at Fay’s Evelyn Bay, Charlotte Performing Arts Center, and the Eaton Area Senior Center. All proceeds from the event will continue to fund the CPS Education Foundation Endowment Fund and annual Classroom Mini-Grants.  Tickets include light snacks and refreshments. Craft beer and wine will also be available for purchase.

For more information, email cpsef14@yahoo.com or by call (517) 749-1229.