The Big Pigs are going, going, gone from the streets, and about half of them are on their way to auction. Now's your chance to pick up a pig, in plenty of time for holiday giving.

        Over the past six months, more than 420 pigs were created for the Big Pig Gig, ArtWorks' public art project. Even as the Pig Gig winds down, artists are still creating pigs to be premiered and sold the same day.

        There's no predicting the outcome of the auctions. No one can guess how high bidders will go for a favorite pig. There is no precedent, except for Chicago's Cow Parade auctions that last year raised $3.5 million. (Money raised here will go to ArtWorks and 243 other area non-profit organizations.)

        “Cincinnati isn't Chicago,” said J. Louis Karp, who will auction the pigs at Music Hall, “so you can't compare, but I know of a lot of people who are planning to spend pretty good money to buy a pig.”

        “The auctions are crucial to the success of this project. So far we have just covered expenses,” said Big Pig Gig co-chair Melody Sawyer Richardson. “The auctions are where the local charities hope to raise money.”

        Starting bid for the live auction will be $300, and the minimum price on eBay is $1,500, so the live auction is the place to go for a bargain pig.

        If you want to buy a pig, or watch other people compete for pigs, sign on to the Internet at auction.bigpiggig.com and follow the links to eBay and the Music Hall live auction. You can see pictures of the pigs in each auction and get all the information you need to participate.

        The Online eBay auction starts with 35 pigs Wednesday. A second group of 35 starts Thursday, and more are added Friday and Saturday. Each group is auctioned for eight days.

        There are instructions at eBay on how to register to bid, or you can just watch as others compete for their favorite pigs.

        There is a minimum bid (“reserve”) for each pig, about $1,500, and bids have to meet or pass that for the pigs to sell. Bidding on eBay often gets lively in the last few hours an item is listed.

        The live auction at Music Hall will bring together artists, sponsors, bidders and pig fans who just want to enjoy the show.

        The pigs will be displayed in the Music Hall foyer and shown on screen as auctioneer Karp of Main Auction Galleries calls the bids, which will start at $200 or $300 and move up by $25 increments.

        At $500, the bids will go up in $50 jumps; at $1,000, bids will raise $100. If the price reaches $5,000, the bids will increase in $500 jumps; if bids pass $10,000, the jumps will be $1,000.

        Bidders have to purchase at least a $30 ticket to the live auction and register for a bidding paddle to show when they wish to raise a bid. (Tickets are $15 for auction watchers. Bidding tickets are $30, $60 and $100 depending on seating and on the level of pre-auction parties, available through TicketMaster, 241-7469.)

        “This isn't going to be a dull auction, like they do at Sotheby's and Christies,” Mr. Karp said. “I like to get down off the stage and work the audience. I want this to be exciting. I want it to be fast. I want it to be funny.”

        For those too passionate about pigs to stop bidding, there's yet another auction: The Little Pig Auction. The small scale pigs made by ArtWorks students last summer will be sold along with the piglets made by Big Pig artists, Dec. 9 in the Westin Hotel Atrium.

        More than 200 piglets will be sold in a silent auction. Piglet Preview will be noon-4 p.m., sale from 4-7 p.m. Admission is $15. Reservations, 333-0388.

Pig auction details

Today's pig profile: Big Nutcracker

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