Australia bushfires: Art auction for Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund

Gippsland Art Gallery is gearing up for its bushfire aid auction in March, following an overwhelming response from artists. And you can get involved from home.

Auction: Simon Gregg setting up Gippsland Art Aid in Sale. Picture: Dannika Bonser

GIPPSLAND Art Gallery director Simon Gregg thought he’d get “50, maybe 100” donated artworks when he first sent out an email about their bushfire fundraising art auction.

“I sent the email on the Saturday (January 4) and by Monday my inbox was overflowing with messages,” Simon says.

“When we put the message on Facebook, it went around the world and was viewed 100,000 times, with messages from the UK to South America, then we had artworks sent to us from Croatia, Germany and the US.

“It just went off. It was like nothing I’d ever seen. We were overwhelmed with people in the first week getting in touch. We even had one package from an artist in Maffra with 30 artworks in it.”

So overwhelmed was the gallery by the generosity of the artistic community that when donated artworks reached about 1000, they sent out a message saying they were at capacity, with no more room to spare.

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While compiling all these artworks has been a logistical juggling act — with the help of courier companies, and drop off points around Melbourne — the auction itself will be a feat.

The Art Aid Gippsland Auction will be held on Sunday, March 15, from 4pm at The Wedge Performing Arts Centre in Sale, with international auction company Invaluable offering their auctioneers for free.

The event will be free, but attendees need to get tickets to ensure a seat, with live bidding in person and online through the evening for 200 items.

In parallel, from late this month, the remaining artworks will be posted online, where people can lodge bids, see the highest bid — the hammer will finally fall on the best offer on auction day.

All money raised will be donated to the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund to help support those who have lost their homes and property in the devastating East Gippsland bushfires.

The gallery is currently exhibiting some of the key works, which Simon estimates are worth at least $550,000.

Among the high-profile artists to gift their works is 2018 Archibald Prize winner Yvette Coppersmith, who has donated a painting with a reserve of $3000 “but she sells her works for at least $10,000”.

Sale artist Annemieke Mein — renowned around the world for her textile works — has donated a rare piece, while glass artist Nick Mount from Adelaide has donated an item worth $10,000, with no reserve.

Sale artist Klara Jones has donated a piece to the auction. Picture: Dannika Bonser

Klara’s painting which is part of the exhibition and auction.

Another Sale artist, Klara Jones, donated a portrait, in the style of an 1800s French artist, measuring 20cm x 25cm.

“I knew a lot of people would donate big pieces and so I wanted to give something that was more affordable,” says Klara, who has friends who were evacuated and helped fight the blazes.

“I think everyone, not just artists, felt a huge sense of helplessness with the bushfires.

“We aren’t all able to rush to the fires and help, we’d only be in the way. I wanted to help in any way I could.

“I think that’s why so many artists stepped forward. It’s our way of trying to help the people impacted.”

Simon says the majority of art was donated from Gippsland and Melbourne, but with a surprising amount from interstate and overseas.

“We’ve had three years of drought in Gippsland and at times it’s difficult to get people interested from the city. But we found when the smoke hit Melbourne, when they were directly impacted, they wanted to do something,” he says.

The Gippsland Art Gallery was established in 1965, the first public art venue to open east of Melbourne.

Every year the gallery hosts about 20 exhibitions of local, national and international significance, in addition to its permanent collection, which has more than 2200 items, with the theme of Gippsland and the natural environment.

Art works that are part of the Gippsland Art Aid show. Picture: Dannika Bonser

“We are not the closest to the fires. The East Gippsland Art Gallery in Bairnsdale have been at the frontline, but with three part-time staff they are not in a position to take on anything like this auction. With seven permanent staff, we are better placed and bigger,” Simon says.

While there are a few high-profile, renowned painters involved in the fundraising auction, artworks were not viewed prior to donation, with some given by children and hobbyists.

Local artists’ societies, too, have been major contributors, with Phillip Island’s group donating about 50. Many paintings are dedicated to wildlife and landscapes, with photos, prints, sculptures and ceramics also on offer in the auction.

“Mums were posting works from their kids, which was beautiful, but ultimately we are trying to raise funds for bushfire relief and so encouraged donations that will help us achieve this.

“We’ve encouraged some people to work with their local communities, to look for alternatives,” he says.

“This is a different kind of art project. The exhibition and auction represents all abilities and celebrates these wonderful donations, with professionals next to children.”

●●gippslandartgallery.com