November looms large in the New York art world and the first night of the month is tagged for Aperture Foundation's annual benefit and auction. This year's installment is bigger than ever -- with two new features tailored to young collectors.

First, an emerging artist category has been added to the auction for the first time to acknowledge Aperture's commitment to supporting the artistic stars of tomorrow. Better yet for those attending, an afterparty hosted by SNAP!, Aperture's Young Patrons Program, will include a silent auction of works in that category, plus great raffle prizes, and live music spun by some of today's hottest DJs, AJ Slim, Tim Barber of TinyVices.com and Jeannie Hopper of LiquidSoundLounge.com, and ARTonAIR.org. The party is co-chaired by artist Hank Willis Thomas, Carolyn Francis, and Giovanni Tomaselli of Polaroid, sponsor of SNAP!

Work in the emerging artist category, left to right: Leah Oates, Transitory Space-Beijing, China 13, 2008/2009; Mark Lyon, Middletown YMCA, Cycling Studio, 2009; Megan Gorham, Untitled, 2008.

Among the exciting established and emerging artists whose work is featured in the live and silent auctions are Jowhara AlSaud, Diane Arbus, Bruce Davidson, Bruce Gilden, John Gossage, Bob Gruen, Eirik Johnson, Maira Kalman, Curtis Mann, Susan Meiselas, Joel Meyerowitz, Richard Misrach, Graham Nash, Eric Ogden, Ruth Orkin, Herb Ritts, Marla Rutherford, Mickey Smith, Paul Strand, Mickalene Thomas, Brian Ulrich, Paolo Ventura, James Welling, Kehinde Wiley, Hank Willis Thomas, Dan Winters, and Michael Wolf.

For those attending the benefit and auction at New York's Chelsea Piers and want to get a head start, and for those unable to attend, online bidding is now open for the 92 artworks in the live and silent auctions. Bids may be placed from now through Monday, November 1, 12:00 noon EST at http://www.aperture.org/auction. Click to purchase tickets.

Aperture 2010 Benefit and Auction. Monday, November 1, 2010. 6:00-11:30 p.m. The Lighthouse, Pier 61, Chelsea Piers, 23rd Street and the West Side Highway, NY, NY.

Aperture Foundation, which has, for nearly 60 years, been dedicated to advancing photography in all its forms, will honor three individuals for their outstanding and long-term commitment to the field: photographer Richard Misrach; collector, philanthropist and former Aperture Board member Steven Ames; and New York-based gallerist Julie Saul. For more information, please visit the website.

102810