A Hand Up for Prahran Mission
December 2012
A range of outstanding contemporary art will go under the hammer this weekend in a joint initiative between Prahran Mission and fine art auctioneers Deutscher and Hackett.
The initiative draws inspiration from Prahran Mission’s motto of giving people a “hand up” rather than a “hand out” and of course plays on the double sense of the hand going up at auction.
A total of 73 artists have donated a selection of contemporary art, as has patron of the auction Lyn Williams AM, widow of the late Fred Williams. There are also some pieces made by artists, including a collaboration with the traditionally made deck-chairs by Jam Out. The purpose of the auction, to be held on Sunday December 9 (see details below) is to raise funds so Prahran Mission can keep their award-winning programs running whilst helping those experiencing homelessness, mental disability and poverty in Stonnington Council and surrounding suburbs.
Established in 1946, Prahran Mission, an agency of the Uniting Church in Australia, provides emergency relief services to those experiencing homelessness and economic disadvantage as well as rehabilitation services to those experiencing mental illness and psychiatric disability.
Its mission is to partner with those who have or have had a mental illness or experience extreme social and economic disadvantage in order to facilitate a full and meaningful life.
The catalogue for Sunday’s auction amounts to over $280,000 worth of art going under the hammer. This is an opportunity for collectors of contemporary art to purchase highly collectable works at prices without buyer’s premium or any normal auction costs, while also giving them the opportunity to help a worthwhile cause. AS Deutscher and Hackett are taking no commission – all proceeds will be used for specific programs run by Prahran Mission.
The 75-lot auction includes works by such artists as Jon Campbell (winner of the recent Basil Sellers Art Prize), Angela Brennan, Brent Harris, Garry Shead, Lisa Roet, Kate Beynon, Mike Parr, Imants Tillers, Polly Borland, past Archibald Prize winners Sam Leach and Lewis Miller, Tanya Hoddinott, Mark Schaller, Melinda Harper, Darren Wardle, Matthew Johnson, Penelope Davis, Jane Burton and a number of highly collectable young and emerging artists. Not to mention, of course, the work by Fred Williams his widow Lyn has kindly donated.
“Prahran Mission is a remarkable and effective ‘hands on’ community service agency dealing with many difficult and often seemingly hopeless situations in our local areas,” commented Chris Deutscher, Executive Director of Deutscher and Hackett, Melbourne. “Last year we pledged to launch an annual Deutscher and Hackett/Prahran Mission Fundraising Art Auction with a greater connection and exposure to Melbourne artists and galleries.”
Lyn Williams is also enthusiastic about the initiative, encouraging Melbourne art lovers and collectors to support the generosity of the artists and Deutscher and Hackett to this project by, in their turn, bidding generously.
The artworks will be on view on Friday December 7 and Saturday December 8 from 11:00 – 5:00pm, and on Sunday December 9 from 11:00 – 3:00pm, at Deutscher and Hackett Fine Art Auctioneers, 105 Commercial Road, South Yarra.
The auction will take place at 3:00pm on Sunday December 9, also at Deutscher and Hackett, South Yarra.
Images:
Melinda Harper “Untitled 2012”
Veronica Kent “The Young Collector 2010”
Polly Borland “Untitled XXVIII 2010”
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