Artists Creating For Conservation

Artists creating for conservation

Works by some of New Zealand's best-known artists will be auctioned in support of Forest & Bird's conservation campaigns.

Nearly 100 paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings by some of New Zealand's most prominent artists will be auctioned at Government House on October 4, hosted by Their Excellencies The Honourable Anand and Susan Satyanand (the Governor-General is also Forest & Bird Patron.)

Auction convenor Kerin Welford says New Zealand's dramatic natural landscapes and unique native plants and animals have inspired many of our artists, and the desire to protect these sources of inspiration has meant many artists have been active in supporting conservation issues.

"Art and conservation go hand in hand in many ways, so an art auction is a fantastic way to support the protection of New Zealand's natural heritage.

Artists represented in the auction include Dick Frizzell, John Walsh, Michael Smither, Brent Wong, Gerda Leenards, Gail Gauldie, Elizabeth Thomson, Don Binney, Nigel Brown, Gavin Chilcott, Tanya Ashken, Richard Peebles, Gordon Crook, Simon Morris and Paul Hartigan, as well as many new and emerging artists.

The works will be exhibited on September 26-27 at Wellington's Michael Fowler Centre (free entry), and the public can place bids on-line at www.forestandbird.org.nz/artauction ahead of the auction at Government House on October 4.

Proceeds from the auction will go towards two of Forest & Bird's campaign seeking greater protection for endangered Hector's and Maui's dolphins, and its campaign for greater protection of the South Island high country's landscapes and native species through a network of conservation parks.

"Thanks to the generosity of New Zealand artists we will be able to help save our endemic dolphins from the risk of extinction, and protect our iconic high country for the enjoyment of future generations," Kerin Welford says. "We hope the public will be equally generous in supporting these important conservation causes."

* Forest & Bird is New Zealand's oldest and largest conservation organization and has been campaigning for protection of our unique native species and ecosystems since 1923. Forest & Bird is a charitable organization which does not receive Government funding and relies on public donations and memberships to support its conservation work.

* Hector's dolphin and the North Island sub-species, Maui's dolphin, are threatened by human activities, particularly set netting. Forest & Bird is campaigning for a nationwide set net ban and establishment of marine mammal sanctuaries in key areas.

*The South Island high country's tussock, high peaks, glaciers and braided rivers is probably New Zealand's most iconic landscape, and is home to native species such as kea, orange-fronted parakeets and black stilts. Forest & Bird is campaigning to ensure the areas with highest conservation and landscape values are retained in full public ownership for the enjoyment of all New Zealanders through the creation of new conservation parks.

* To place online bids on artworks, or arrange to make a telephone bid, go to www.forestandbird.org/artauction. These bids will be taken along with "live" bids by the Dunbar Sloane auctioneer at the auction at Government House on October 4.

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