Fisher Galleries donates close to $40,000

Fisher Galleries donates close to $40,000 to Dyslexia Foundation of New Zealand

Christchurch fine art dealer Fisher Galleries today announced a donation of almost $40,000 to the Dyslexia Foundation of New Zealand (DFNZ). The money was raised through the sale of artworks at their Victoria Street Gallery.

In April 2007, Fisher Galleries and internationally recognised artist Mackenzie Thorpe opened a major installation of monumental bronze sculpture along Worcester Boulevard - home of the DFNZ offices. The installation, previously exhibited as part of a museum show in Kansas City, consisted of four 10-15 foot high bronze sculptures, each valued at $180,000-$310,000.

To coincide with the installation, Fisher Galleries also curated a major exhibition of original and editioned artworks by Thorpe at their Victoria Street Gallery, with five percent of total sales to be donated to DFNZ. Both the sculptures and artworks by Thorpe, who himself overcame dyslexia to become a renowned artist, also toured to Auckland then to Millbrook Resort in Queenstown. Three of the bronze sculptures are still installed at Millbrook.

Fisher Galleries said today the final amount raised by the activity was $38,622. "We are delighted to make this donation. Dyslexia is common amongst many of our most creative people - it's a worthy cause and we know the money will be put to very good use by the Foundation," Simon Fisher says.

Guy Pope-Mayell, DFNZ Chair of Trustees, says the money will make a real difference in supporting the Foundation's work.

"We are committed to affecting change for the one in ten New Zealanders who have dyslexia, and in particular the 70,000 New Zealand schoolchildren affected by dyslexia-related learning differences," he says.

Last year, the Government laid the groundwork for change when it formally recognised dyslexia. The donation from Fisher Galleries will allow the DFNZ to continue working to translate recognition into action and secure specific funding to address dyslexia in schools.

Mackenzie Thorpe artworks and information on the artist can be viewed on the Fisher Galleries website www.fishergalleries.co.nz.

Further information about DFNZ can be found on its website www.dfnz.org.nz.

ENDS

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