New Harris Painting Going Under The Hammer

8 July 2005

New Harris Painting Going Under The Hammer

A new painting by one of New Zealand's top contemporary artists, Jeffrey Harris, "The Poet II" is going under the hammer at Dunbar Sloane's in Wellington in August to raise money for the NZ-UK Link Foundation.

The new painting will be testament to Dunedin-based Harris' statement that his creative output has been given a "lift" by his NZ-UK Link Foundation 10 week sponsored residency in London last year, part of the Paramount Award of which he was the recipient in the 2003 Wallace Arts Awards.

In London, he used the time to make daily visits to many of the top galleries, studying many of the Old Masters in great depth. Sometimes visiting one several times to learn more about the techniques involved.

In appreciation of the benefits the residency brought to him, Harris donated the specially produced painting to the Foundation in order to help it raise funds to assist others to have the opportunity to enhance their experience and talent through similar exchanges.

"We are extremely grateful to Jeffrey for his generosity," Link Foundation chairman Giff Davidson, says, adding that the organisation is hopeful the painting will raise over $5,000 for its Discretionary Award fund.

The NZ-UK Link Foundation aims to enhance the links between the UK and New Zealand. It runs a series of Fellowships and awards, supported either by its own fund-raising for through the sponsorship of companies and other organisations. To date, over 170 individuals have been helped pursue their interest/studies in the other's country.

An exhibition of Jeffrey Harris' life works, organised by the Dunedin Public Art Gallery and already shown in Dunedin, is touring the country and will open at Wellington's City Art Gallery in mid-November. A new book by Justin Paton, curator of contemporary art at the DPAG, has also been launched and features over 100 colour plates over its 208 pages. Its publishers claim it will 'confirm the artist's place in the front rank of living New Zealand painters.'

ENDS

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