Locals celebrate 7th Wine Box Auction
THE CONGREGATION OF THE DEAD: Eddie Budd's artwork. HBT123252-01
By Tania McCauley
news@hbtoday.co.nz
Locals and visitors to Hawke's Bay have a chance over the next few days to check out the works of art going under the hammer in the 7th Wine Box Auction for Realpeople@Mosaic.
The wine boxes from 15 artists will be on show at i-Site Napier, the New Zealand Wine Centre and the Art Deco Trust in Napier until auction day on Friday, February 22 at the Realpeople@Mosaic Gallery on Gloucester St.
While all the previous auctions focused on a home crowd, this year, Presbyterian Support East Coast, which runs the community-based educational day service for people with a physical disability, decided to expand its focus. They hope to attract people from outside the region and moved it to February, leading into the auction during Art Deco celebrations and having the sale the night before the Mission concert.
The boxes on show can be purchased prior to auction night - if bids are made beyond the reserve price. Buyers can then take the wine box and the accompanying six bottles of wine labelled with the wine box image home immediately.
"The artists continually support us in running the event, which is the highlight of our fundraising calendar," said Realpeople@Mosaic manager Leighann Coleman.
"They always seem to come up with new and exciting pieces."
There seemed to be a "cult" following, as many people saw it as a way to acquire an original artwork from high-profile artists, with an added Hawke's Bay wine slant, she said.
The most paid for a wine box was $7000 for an untitled piece by Para Matchitt in 2011. The auction has raised up to $30,000 in previous years.
The 5.30pm auction will be directed by Fane Flaws, who has a piece on sale. Other contributing artists include Wellesley Binding, Jo Blogg, Eddie Budd, Jane Gray, David Guerin, Tony Harrington, William Jamieson, Helen Kerridge, Lynne Parsons, Prakesh Patel, Alan Toa, David Truebridge, Patrick Tyman and Rae West.
To view this year's wine boxes or for further information visit www.wineboxauction.co.nz. For tickets to the auction, email rebekah.vantsant@psec.org.nz.
