During the pandemic, New York City- and Niantic-based artist David J. Marchi has been creating whimsical stone sculptures and displaying them on the stone wall in front of his Niantic home.

After inquiries from visitors coming to look at the creations, Marchi decided to find a way for the art pieces to help benefit the community. That led Marchi to the Niantic Children’s Museum.

Marchi’s one-of-a-kind whimsical works are now available at the Museum’s Art With HEART online auction. Currently there are 15 original Marchi pieces available, ranging from pop culture favorites such as Baby Yoda and dragons to traditional rock cairns. Each piece is made with stones, shells and other seaside treasures from local beaches. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Niantic Children's Museum.

The auction ends Dec. 18, 2020.

Marchi’s passion for painting was the direct result of a broken back from a boat accident in 2015. Prior to the accident, he ran an expansive marketing company and never painted. After the accident, Marchi woke up one night and had the sudden urge to paint. The next day he bought his first paint set, started painting and hasn’t stopped since. In 2019, he was diagnosed with Acquired Savant Syndrome, where dormant savant skills emerge after a spinal or brain injury or disease in previously non-disabled persons. 

To see the Art With HEART auction, visit Art4NianticKids.givesmart.com. To learn more about the Niantic Children’s Museum, visit NianticKids.org. To learn more about Marchi, visit gallerymarchi.com.