Art With Heart Auction Raises Close to $75,000 for Christchurch

An art auction held at Queenstown’s Millbrook Resort on Friday (25 March) has been hailed an “outstanding success” after raising close to $75,000 for the people of Christchurch.

A 200-strong audience turned out to ‘Art with Heart’ to raise their paddles as 24 lots of art went under the hammer for the cause. The art was donated from some of New Zealand’s most prolific and well-loved artists and sold for as little as $750 up to $25,000.

The total raised was $74,025 which will go to the Red Cross New Zealand 2011 Earthquake Appeal.

The highest bid of $25,000 was for organiser Ed Cruikshank’s braille-inscribed custom-built revolving table in black walnut and gun-blued steel, entitled 1821 Canterbury.

The braille inscription holds reference to the strength shown by Cantabrians in the aftermath of the earthquake and reads: ‘Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope, love can outlast anything. It stands still when all else has fallen’.

The second highest selling piece was Melvin (Pat) Day’s Still Life with Figs painting from 1988 which reached $15,000.

Mr Cruikshank said he was delighted with the success of the inaugural event and was overwhelmed with the calibre of artists who donated their work.

“Art with Heart went fantastically well, if you consider that the event was put together in a matter of weeks. Some beautiful pieces were collected and there was a lovely crowd of locals, internationals, art-buffs and some very clever buyers at the event,” he said.

“The couple who bought my piece are currently living in Queenstown after their house was damaged in the earthquake so I’m very happy that they bought it and expect it will be very special to them.

“I’d also like to give a special thanks to Ernie Maluschnig who helped me build this very special table, Nadene Milne Gallery, Artbay Gallery and Toi o Tahuna Gallery for their generosity, and congratulate all other artists involved.”

Other successful auction pieces included Shane Woolridge’s It’s Not our Fault installation which sold well over its estimated price at $6000. Artist Max Gimblett’s Untitled 2002 piece, another standout at the auction, reached $4,600.

Millbrook Marketing Manager Matthew Gould said ‘Art with Heart’ had generated huge interest and received a great turnout.

“The success of this event is a great testament to New Zealand’s artistic community and Queenstown’s community at large. We’re extremely happy with how the auction came together and discussions are already underway to organise an event for next year," he said.

Artists whose work went to auction included Todd Couper (via Toi o Tahuna), Kelvin Mann, Mark Hill, Annie Boyd, Garrick Tremain, Jane Pestell-Litton, Peter Beadle, Russell McLean, Max Gimblett, Gretchen Albrecht, Dick Frizzell (via Toi o Tahuna), Shane Woolridge, Gilbert and George (via Lee Fletcher), Ernie Maluschnig, Rachael Errington, Jackie Ranken and Mike Langford, Christine Hill, Alan Waters, and Dan Kelly.

To view information on the artworks and artists go to www.millbrook.co.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media