Late artist’s works auctioned for wildlife sanctuaries
A late Adelaide artist’s personal studio collection will be auctioned to raise funds for two wildlife sanctuaries.
Arts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Arts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
More than 40 works from the studio collection of late Adelaide artist Annette Bezor, including paintings of singers Amy Winehouse and Courtney Love, will be auctioned on Thursday.
Proceeds will be donated to two SA wildlife sanctuaries that were named in Bezor’s will, Minton Farm and Freedom Hill Animal Rescue Centre.
Bezor, a former finalist in the Archibald and Doug Moran portrait prizes, died aged 69 from ovarian cancer in 2020.
Auctioneer Marc du Plessis said Bezor was a “true pioneer” in figurative art and the collection included works dating back to the early 1980s.
“Her distinctive style and unwavering commitment to exploring themes of feminism,
gender identity, and societal constructs made her a trailblazer,” he said.
“Bezor fearlessly tackled themes of sexuality, power dynamics, and the female gaze … encouraging dialogue surrounding gender inequality.”
The auction, which includes two mirrors designed by the artist, will be held at du Plessis in Mile End on Thursday, November 16, at 6pm.
OzAsia Festival producer to take over artistic program from 2024
OzAsia Festival executive producer Joon-Yee Kwok will also take artistic control of the Adelaide event from next year.
Outgoing director Annette Shun Wah, whose three-year term finishes with this year’s festival on Sunday, has also received the inaugural OzAsia Award for a significant contribution to Asian-Australian culture.
“I am deeply honoured to be stepping into her enormous shoes and continuing the work we’ve done together in cultural engagement between Asia and Australia,” Ms Kwok said.
“Annette is known to many Asian Australian artists as a fairy godmother, and she has certainly made many of my dreams come true.”
Ms Kwok has 20 years experience as a producer and manager in the arts and creative industries and moved from Brisbane to her role at the Adelaide Festival Centre in 2022.
Ms Shun Wah will continue to work with Ms Kwok in a program consultancy role.
“We’ve worked so closely and so well together and share the same ideals and hopes for this festival,” Ms Shun Wah said.
“I feel I am leaving on a high.”
Floral fashions hold hidden meanings at Feast festival
Hidden meanings behind certain flowers have inspired fashions created by nine Adelaide makers for a parade in the Botanic Garden’s Bicentennial Conservatory.
The Bloomin’ Fabulous Runway event on Thursday and an accompanying exhibition at the Goodman Building from Saturday are part of the Feast Festival, which runs from November 1-19.
Former bridal wear designer Skye Bartlett used leftover material from his final wedding gown to create a Wisteria Floribunda dress, complete with purple blooms.
“We have marriage equality now, so I thought returning to something that I earned my bread and butter with would be fun,” he said.
Mr Bartlett said that, in the 19th century, gay men would sometimes wear a green carnation, while violets were often associated with lesbians.
Event curator Nikki Sullivan, who also designed a Corpse Flower dress, said the exhibition would further explore historical links between queer culture and botany.
“In literature, there are a lot of examples of this relationship,” Ms Sullivan said.
“(Marcel) Proust refers to men who are attracted to men as ‘evening botanists’ which I think is just the most beautiful term.
“Historically, people referred to marriages between a woman and a gay man as a ‘lavender marriage’,” she said.
Full program at feast.org.au
Secret unseen Heysen family paintings go to auction
Paintings by acclaimed Hahndorf landscape artist Sir Hans Heysen that are previously unseen by the public are expected to fetch up to $200,000 at auction in Adelaide this weekend.
The eight paintings by Sir Hans, and one by his artist daughter Nora, have remained in the Heysen family and will go under the hammer at du Plessis Auctions in Mile End on Sunday.
General manager Marc du Plessis said the collection comes from the family house of Sir Hans’ great-niece June Heysen, who has moved into a nursing home at the age of 97.
“For us to get important artists’ works that have never been offered at auction, let alone seen by the public, are rare,’ Mr du Plessis said.
“To get a whole collection of the same artist is just unheard of.”
The highlight of the collection is an oil on canvas painting of chrysanthemums, which Sir Hans gave to June’s parents – his nephew Eric and Maisy Heysen – for their wedding.
June Heysen’s son, Chris McCarthy, said Sir Hans only painted similar still life subjects, such as flowers or vegetables, as gifts for family members on special occasions.
Estimates for the individual paintings range from about $6000 to $60,000.
Viewings will be held at du Plessis Auctions from 11am-3pm on Saturday and from noon on Sunday, followed by the auction from 1pm.
$50,000 award for mid-career artist
Arts wrap: A leading South Australian sculptor has been awarded the annual $50,000 Guildhouse Fellowship. Plus – your first look at next year’s must-see Fringe acts.
Queen of afrobeats to light up music festival
A Grammy-nominated afropop queen with over 17 million Instagram followers and an Australian actress will make their WOMADelaide debut next year.