Take 5 and Te Whare Marama

Take 5 and Te Whare Marama

Media release – for immediate release

5 March 2007

Art Auction With a Twist Only Days Away

Only four days to go until talented emerging artists join forces with some of New Zealand’s leading creative talent at a special Lower Hutt art auction on Thursday.

The FreshArt auction will see artists such as Ans Westra, Doreen Blumhardt and Mirek Smisek sell works alongside emerging artists who work out of studio space at local mental health service provider Take 5 and Te Whare Marama.

The auction is not a fundraiser, but is instead designed to promote Take 5 and Te Whare Marama’s emerging artists and provide locals with a great opportunity to view and buy outstanding art from a range of artists. The auction will run towards the end of Schizophrenia Awareness Week.

“Art is a great way for people who experience mental illness to express themselves in a non-verbal way. Take 5 and Te Whare Marama provide a top-quality studio where people who experience mental illness can develop their creativity as they choose. As a result some fantastic artists have emerged over the years,” says Stephanie Cairns, manager of Take 5 and Te Whare Marama.

“Our passion is finding ways to raise the profile of these artists. The auction is a great way to do that, as well as to showcase the quality of their work next to some of New Zealand’s best. It’s also a great opportunity to buy good art at competitive prices – whether you are an established collector or a first time buyer.”

The auction will also feature a special lecture from Tim Walker, director of the Dowse art gallery, on how to buy art at auctions. All works are available to view prior to the auction, which will kick off at 6.00pm. Profits are delivered back to the artists involved in the event.

For more information and to view profiles of exhibiting artists, visit www.freshart.org.nz

FreshArt Auction
Thursday 8 March, 2007
Lower Hutt Town Hall

ENDS