Archibald Prize portrait of Alex McKinnon to raise money for recovery costs
YOU can’t put a price on love and if Scott McKinnon has his way, it would be a pretty lofty figure in the name of helping his wheelchair-bound son Alex.
Blacktown
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YOU can’t put a price on love and if Scott McKinnon has his way, it would be a pretty lofty figure in the name of helping his wheelchair-bound son Alex.
The father of the former Newcastle forward is eagerly observing how much the Archibald Prize portrait Sarah Key painted of Alex will fetch during an online auction.
As an entrant, the Lalor Park artist pledged to donate the $100,000 prizemoney towards covering some of Alex’s rehabilitation costs two years after he suffered a severe spinal injury in a tackle.
Despite Key’s painting missing out on winning the famous art prize (the title went to Louise Hearman for her portrait of Barry Humphries) she remains passionate about raising funds for Alex.
Mr McKinnon was touched at Key’s gesture after an article in the Blacktown Advocate revealed details of her Archibald entry.
Mr McKinnon said his son, 24, was low-key and was happy to accept media responsibilities but he felt compelled to talk to the Advocate after seeing the article on Ms Key’s work.
“I think it’s pretty special someone’s doing that and plus the auction,’’ he said.
As well as the online bidding, Key’s portraits of Alex, Jean Kittson, Derryn Hinch and retired Admiral Christopher Oxenbould will be on display at Tap Gallery Surry Hills until August 1.
Ms Key, who is an art teacher at Cherrybrook Technology High School, hopes the art will unite the rugby league and artistic communities.
“I think in everybody there is a connection to art, whether people admit it or not, and I think it’s universal,’’ the 40-year-old said.
“I think also art can reach such a broad range of people and different groups of society – it goes beyond class, age, religion, gender so it’s all encompassing.’’
Mr McKinnon said his son was continuing rehabilitation on the Gold Coast.
“It is what it is and he just hopes and works hard.”
Mr McKinnon, who lives in Aberdeen in the Hunter region, praised his son’s character.
“He was always just focused. He’s so nice to everyone. I couldn’t be that nice but that’s just him – he’s just got a way about him.’’
Our community has fielded a strong representation of artists in the Archibald this year.
Blacktown artist Nick Stathopoulos painted a portrait of Blacktown lawyer and former child soldier Deng Thiak Adut, and was a finalist.
Marikit Santiago’s painting of contemporary artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran was also a finalist.
The 48 finalists are on exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW until October 9.
Ms Santiago has been a finalist in the Blacktown City Art Prize four times and was awarded the Young Painter Prize in 2012.
Her portrait of Nithiyendran, a Sri Lankan–born, Sydney-based contemporary artist, is a tribute to his art.
She said she met him while they were studying honours the UNSW’s art and design school.
“Working together in the studios, often discussing our work, we became good friends,’’ she said.
“He is now enjoying success as an established ceramic artist.
“I wanted to include a representation of his work as part of his portrait.”
Santiago will also be one of the featured artists in Balik Bayan, an exhibition to be staged at Blacktown Arts Centre in late 2017.
Stathopoulos’s portrait of Blacktown lawyer Deng Thiak Adut took over four months to complete.
“I’m actually a very traditional practitioner by choice,” he said.
“I’ve spent my entire life developing my style and process. What I do is time-consuming, laborious and painstaking.”
Last year’s Archibald Prize was won by Blacktown-born artist Nigel Milsom for Judo house pt 6 (the white bird), a portrait of barrister Charles Waterstreet.
JOIN THE BID
● Online bid to raise funds for Alex McKinnon
● Details: bit.ly/sarah-key1
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