Need a new and artistic mailbox? Barbara Nemko, Napa County superintendent of schools, has got a deal for you.

The Napa County Reads program this year has students and the community reading “The Mailbox” by Audrey Shafer, and the County Office of Education, County Board of Supervisors and the Arts Council of Napa Valley have joined together for a special “mailbox” fundraising effort.

Local artists were invited to decorate mailboxes, donated by Orchard Supply Hardware. More than two dozen responded with creations that Nemko said, “are absolutely amazing — and they’re all different.”

The works of art will be auctioned off by a silent auction at a reception Thursday evening, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Artesa Winery.  Shafer and the artists will be on hand for the reception, which will also include hors d’oeuvres prepared by Napa schools’ culinary programs, Artesa wines, and water donated by Calistoga Water. The reception is free to the public, who can bid on the mailboxes and take home a unique new home for their mail. Opening bids are $10 with increments of $3.

“I could not believe how incredible they were until I saw them,” said Nemko who reported she was “blown away” when she went to the Arts Council offices and saw the mailboxes artists were bringing in. The imaginative works range from a mosaic-covered mail box to one painted to look like a loaf of Wonderbread.

“They are absolutely fantastic,” Nemko said. “I am going to bid on all of them. What Christmas presents!”

The participating artists include: Patrick Allen, Josanna Borelli-Zavala, Eve Breckinridge, Diane Brinker, José Charles, Kelly Dunn, Diane Flyr, Reuben Godinez, Marlene Haas, Gordon Huether, Don Judah, Rob Keller, Heather McLaughlin, Michele Mitcavish, Sunshine Moeschler, Shelly Monte, Fred Morse, Christine Olivo, Diana Perez, Davina Rubin, Peter Scaturro, Nancy Shapiro, Heather Stanton, Kim Wild and Kristina Young.

Artesa Winery is at 1345 Henry Road in the Carneros district of Napa.