Huskers.com Auctioning Off Two Paintings from International Artist Dan Dunn

Huskers.com is auctioning off two paintings from international artist Dan Dunn, who, among other major appearances, was featured in the 2010 CBS Super Bowl Pre-Game Show for the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts.

Dunn's artwork, now available on the Huskers.com Auction Home site, was produced two weeks ago at the 2010 Nebraska Director's Club event at the Strategic Air & Space Museum in Ashland, Neb.

In a fast-moving, improvisational performance set to music in front of nearly 800 major Nebraska athletic donors, Dunn took a blank 6-foot-x-6-foot canvas and speed-painted an American bald eagle in about six minutes. To keep the audience guessing, he often painted upside down while continuously spinning the canvas.

Dunn received a standing ovation for the eagle painting, but his masterpiece came next when he produced another memorable 6x6-foot canvas of Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne and NU Head Football Coach Bo Pelini together in a Mt. Rushmore-like depiction. 

When the wheel stopped and everyone knew the subjects, Nebraska donors gave Dunn an even louder standing ovation as they looked to see if Osborne and Pelini were as surprised as they were.

"Our donors have seen a lot of amazing entertainment acts, but I think Dan Dunn was one of their all-time favorites," said Paul Meyers, Nebraska's Associate Athletic Director for Development. "They couldn't believe what they were seeing, and it happened right in front of their eyes. He painted Coach Osborne and Coach Pelini in about 10 minutes, and there's no doubt that he dazzled everyone in the room."

Including Osborne and Pelini, who seemed to be equally impressed, if not amused.

In art school, Dunn specialized in oil painting and water color. He also has a background in illustration, design and caricature and became an international sensation when his teenage daughter posted a video of her dad painting Ray Charles on YouTube. The video received more than 13 million hits and helped make Dunn a worldwide sensation.

Now that his rendition of Osborne and Pelini joins Dunn's personal paintings of Super Bowl heroes, NBA legends and entertainment stars, Nebraska donors and Husker fans everywhere can bid on both pieces of art.

Bidding for the portrait of Osborne and Pelini - which symbolizes leadership - begins at $5,000. The successful bidder also will receive the paint-splattered cap and jacket that Dunn used in his Nebraska Paintjam, the evening's featured entertainment.

Bidding for the American bald eagle - which symbolizes strength - begins at $2,500.

Dunn has performed worldwide for such celebrities as Simon Cowell in London and Fergie in Japan. He has performed his artistic magic for the prime minister in Turkey and the sheikh in Abu Dhabi.

Proceeds from both paintings will benefit the Athletic Department.

Bidding requires minimum $50 incremental increases and will close at 12:15 and 12:30 p.m., respectively, on Tuesday, Sept. 7.

Editor's note: Director's Club members are donors who contribute $5,000 or more annually to Husker Athletics. This special Director's Club event is a feature attraction every other year. While a similar dinner won't be held until 2012, club members receive invitations to other special Athletic Department-sponsored events annually. Director's Club membership is not required to bid on the Dan Dunn auction items.