01 August 2010
PREVIEW - Mazda showcases art for charity
18 August 2006
By Jess Van der Schaaf: Te Waha Nui Online
Mazda Artworks 2006
Hilton Hotel
August 28 - September 4
Established and emerging artists exhibit work to benefit charity.
It’s an annual event, but there are more artists than days of the year at Mazda Artworks 2006 – 375 to be exact.
At this year’s charity art exhibition more than 600 artworks will be on display across a variety of media, such as abstract collages, oil landscapes, and glass sculpture. All pieces will be for sale.
The level of experience and expertise among the exhibiting artists is diverse, from secondary school students through to renowned practising professionals.
The event was launched five years ago as an initiative of the Rotary Club of Ellerslie Sunrise, with the dual aims of enhancing awareness of New Zealand art and raising funds for charity.
Dr Margaret Horsburgh, director of Rotary’s Artworks committee, says the event raised $150,000 last year, and that they will try to equal or exceed that amount this year.
Charities benefiting from this year’s event are the Liggins Institute, Malagahan Institute of Medical Research, Spirit of Adventure Trust, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra Education Programme, and Variety – The Children’s Charity.
Since its inception, the event has become renowned in the art world.
“Artists are actually queuing up. There’s a waiting list of people,” says Dr Horsburgh.
She is partial to contemporary New Zealand art herself and has bought a number of works from the exhibition.
“If people come around to my place, they say, ‘I can see where you’ve been for the past few years’.”
“Art Speak” runs throughout the week, with daily talks about various facets of the art world, from well-known artists discussing their technique and works to seminars on art as an investment.
A new addition to this year’s event is the presence of glass artworks and the Cavalier Bremworth NZ Art of Glass Awards ‘Luminous’, judged by eminent Australian glass artist Warren Langley.
Talented secondary school students from around Auckland are competing for the $8000 Konica Minolta Secondary School Art Award, judged by TV3’s John Campbell.
New Zealand’s top art school graduates are vying for $17,500 worth of prizes in the Mazda Emerging Artist Award. Artworks are being judged by National Business Review art critic John Daly People.
It will be the second year that Mazda has been the major sponsor of Artworks.
Andrew Clearwater, general manager sales and marketing of Mazda New Zealand, says Mazda is keen to maintain this role in the future.
“We see Artworks as an integral part of our involvement in the community.
“As a brand, we’ve aligned ourselves with arts and culture,” says Clearwater.
He says the event is a great opportunity to see a huge selection of affordable art in one place at one time.
“It’s incredible, the sheer amount of talent we have in this country.”
Admission for the whole week of events is $20.
All unsold artworks in the competition will be auctioned off on Saturday.
