Sculpture for Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers’ Charity Wine Auction

16 April 2012

Sculpture showpiece for Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers’ Charity Wine Auction

For the first time in its 21 years’ history, the artwork commissioned for the annual wine auction held in Hawke’s Bay to raise funds for Cranford Hospice, is a sculpture rather than a painting.

High profile sculptor, Hawke’s Bay Ricks Terstappen was commissioned by Cranford Hospice to create the artwork that is to be one of the star lots in the Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers’ Charity Wine Auction being held on the Saturday of Queen’s Birthday Weekend at Orton @ Sileni.

Entitled ‘Still Life with a Bit of Red’, the sculpture is made from off-cuts of steel and subsequently powder coated, and features a ‘clothed’ table, wine glass and bottle, the latter ‘sealed’ in red.

Cranford Hospice general manager, Helen Blaxland says that just as there had been a fresh approach taken with the format of the event – moving from an evening dinner to a cocktail styled afternoon affair – so it was time to take a new direction with the artwork it commissioned.

“We identified that Ricks was a local artist that we felt was missing from the roll call of those who had contributed works for this event, and we were delighted that he took up our invitation to create for us.”

Ricks Terstappen works extensively with recycled materials, particularly wood and steel. Apart from privately owned works, his art is found in public places in Australia, the United States, Sweden, and around New Zealand. The Performance Arts Platform in Hastings is one of his creations.

The sculpture, suitable for indoor or under-cover outside positions, has been featured over the past few months at the cellar doors of Church Road, Black Barn, Trinity Hill, Te Awa and Vidal wineries.

“Response has been very positive with the wineries reporting that their visitors have been quite intrigued,” says Nicholas Buck, chairman of Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers’ Inc., the organisation that established and runs the event that has raised over $2million for the hospice charity.

In addition to the actual sculpture, prints are being produced in a limited edition series that will be signed by the artist. A number of the prints will be framed and these plus those unframed, will be available for purchase.

Over the years, artwork produced for the auction event has been a sought-after lot with spirited bidding resulting in strong prices. A collaborative painting created last year by Dick Frizzell and Martin Popplewell, entitled ‘Study for Rough Red’, sold for $22,000 with the highest amount paid to date being $36,000 in 2006 for a Dick Frizzell painting.

Helen Blaxland says that a number of previous years’ art had been resold or re-valued and had proven to be a solid investment for those lucky successful bidders. “It is gratifying to know that work generously created for us and purchased to provide us funds, is collectable and increasing in value.”

Last year, for the first time, online bidders were included and Lyn Bevin, Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers’ executive officer expects that trend to grow this year as more international wine connoisseurs compete. She says there may be phone bidders from around the country and overseas also.

Tickets for the Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers’ Charity Wine Auction are now on sale and can be purchased by contacting organisers on 06 855 8365 or info@hawkesbaywineauction.co.nz

ENDS

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