Online Auction: Support For Breast Cancer Patients

11 August 2005
News release

Positive, Practical Support For Breast Cancer Patients

A stunning collection of contemporary New Zealand art will be auctioned in a major online event to be held on Friday 19 August.

The auction is a fundraiser for the establishment of the Louise Perkins Foundation, a charitable trust dedicated to improving the well being of breast cancer patients. Art inspired Louise through a decade living with breast cancer. She completed an art history degree and, with her husband Scott, was an avid collector and supporter of New Zealand arts.

“The art auction is the first stage in the establishment of the Foundation,” says Scott. “With the funds it raises, our aim is to build a platform of services that we can offer to breast cancer patients from the beginning of next year.”

The proposed services range from childcare and meal preparation, to home cleaning, gardening, exercise, massage and pampering. With these types of support, the hope is that patients can maintain positive spirits, and so will be better able to cope with their cancer. “Staying positive is not just about a state of mind,” says Scott. “It comes from what you can add to your life – whether it’s art, music, travel, physical activity, therapy, or simply someone to help you around the home.”

As well as these services, the Foundation will also promote research-proven strategies that compliment conventional breast cancer treatment, adds chief executive Vicki St John. “There is some tremendously exciting new research on the beneficial impact of strategies like tailored diet and exercise programmes. These can make a real difference to breast cancer patients. We intend to make access to these programmes a day-to-day reality.”

Leading contemporary art galleries and dealers are supporting the Foundation’s fundraising auction, including Artis, Anna Bibby, Ivan Anthony, Bath Street, Black Barn, Hamish Coney, Sue Crockford, FHE Galleries, Gow Langsford, Andrew Jensen, Barry Keldoulis Sydney, Michael Lett, Anna Miles, Peter McCleavy, Hamish Mckay, McNamara, Masterworks and Stark White.

“The support of these galleries and dealers has been fantastic. We all see it as an amazing opportunity to showcase the cutting edge of New Zealand contemporary art, for a terribly important cause,” says Hamish Coney, who is also curator of the exhibition.

Coney says it will offer a snapshot of current contemporary practice in New Zealand, in photography, painting and sculpture.

“There are about 55 works in the collection, almost all of which have been created specifically for this event. The calibre of the artists involved gives us confidence to claim this will be the best collection for a charity auction ever presented in New Zealand.”

In addition to a Colin McCahon from Gow Langsford gallery, valued between $70,000-$100,000, the collection features work by:

- established artists including Billy Apple, Stephen Bambury, Marti Friedlander, Dick Frizzell, Max Gimblett, Paul Hartigan, Peter Peryer, Ann Robinson and Pamela Wolfe

- mid-career artists such as Tony Delatour, Gavin hipkins, Judy Millar, Fiona Pardington, Neil Pardington, Michael Parekowhai, Jude Rae and Jim Speers;

- emerging talents like Darryn George, Gavin Hurley, Andrew Mcleod, Sarah Smuts Kennedy, Peter Stichbury and Yvonne Todd

- and major international artists James Casebere and Callum Innes.

The works will be displayed in the Union Fish Building on Quay Street, Britomart, Auckland from Saturday 13th to Friday 19th August (open everyday) and viewable online from Saturday 13th August on www.sweetlouise.co.nz. Online bidding will be via this website.

ENDS

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