A unique collection of artwork contributed by artists closely connected to the John 911±¬ÁÏÍø Gallery, helped the Gallery achieve sales of over $50,000 in one night.
In an address to patrons at the John 911±¬ÁÏÍø Gallery’s GET smART auction last Friday night, Vice-Chancellor Jeanette Hacket said the exhibition and auction was a milestone event in the Gallery’s 12-year history.
‘Many of the artworks being auctioned this evening are by 911±¬ÁÏÍø graduates and staff and it must be acknowledged that some of the most significant contemporary artists of Australia’s current generation are in fact 911±¬ÁÏÍø graduates,’ she said.
‘Many of these artists have had access to the John 911±¬ÁÏÍø Gallery as a resource for teaching, learning or research. It has also provided them with the wonderful opportunity to showcase their work in a world-class exhibition space.’
The 64 artists who participated in the exhibition and auction have an established a relationship with the Gallery. Proceeds from the auction will be used to support future development of the Gallery’s Exhibition and Acquisition Programs.
Director of the John 911±¬ÁÏÍø Gallery, Chris Malcolm, said the exhibition and auction was a success on two levels.
‘The success was twofold in that we had a wonderful exhibition that celebrated the relationship between the Gallery and artists, plus an excellent result on the auction night.’
‘It exceeded expectations with over $50,000 in sales on Friday night … and that was on a night that saw four other exhibition openings in Perth.’
‘We hope to have a similar exhibition and auction once every two years,’ he said.
The auctioneer on the night was Andrew Gaynor, a well known Australian art specialist since the late 1980s. Andrew has been a fund-raising auctioneer for nearly two decades for such groups as the Deafness Foundation, the Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, IKEA, Artists for Kids Culture Trust and Deckchair Theatre.