"Ryan German agreed to show local artwork at his cafe on Main Street in Newark. German, also a member of the Newark Arts Alliance board, hopes other local businesses will do the same."

A Main Street restaurant has teamed up with a local arts group to persuade Newark businesses to promote local artwork.

Art aficionados have until the end of the month to view local artists' work on display at Newark's Caffé Gelato.

The nonprofit Newark Arts Alliance will hold its first silent art auction on Dec. 2 at the 90 E. Main St. eatery.

It was no surprise that Caffé Gelato was chosen as the venue. Manager Ryan German, also an alliance board member, has showcased a different artist's work at the cafe every month since it opened. He hopes other Main Street businesses will hop on the bandwagon.

"Our goal as an arts alliance is to have other businesses show artwork and have more awareness of the arts in general," he said. "We definitely need more local art in Newark."

The arts alliance will auction about 30 paintings and photographs now hanging from the cafe walls. Large, three-dimensional art works and sculptures will also be bid on.

Local artists from the University of Delaware and the community donated the artwork. Nearly all of the proceeds from the auction will benefit the arts alliance.

Residents are encouraged to examine the artwork at Caffé Gelato before the auction, said alliance board President David Robertson. They don't have to dine there to look at. the works.

"Quite a few people have been stopping in to look at the works," he said. "The point [of having the auction at the restaurant] is to make it clear to people that the arts have a role to play in the excitement on Main Street."

Each piece of artwork on the walls is numbered, with the title and artist's name displayed below it.

The value of the piece as well as the artist's minimum bid, or price requirement, is also listed.

At the auction, participants will write their bid amounts on a piece of paper next to the work they want to buy. The highest bidder will take home the prize, said alliance director Terry Foreman.

The alliance will sell certain works during a live auction later in the evening, including a colorful rendering of the Art House, located at 132 E. Delaware Avenue. It was painted by Wilmington artist Pamela Bound-Seemans and is valued at $500, Foreman said.

The arts alliance is also accepting advance bids on 20 other miscellaneous crafts and pottery items now on display at the Art House.

The 280-momber arts alliance was established in 1993 to promote all the arts in Newark. It holds workshops, poetry readings, music performances and art classes.

Both the city and state help fund a portion of the group's $90,000 budget. The rest comes from membership dollars, ticketed events and art sales.

The art auction will be held from 5-8 p.m. and is free to the public. Food will be provided and wine for sale. Participants are asked to make at least a $2 donation. For more information, call 266-7266.