savethepoint.org.nz

Prominent local artists of national and international renown have donated works for an art auction to help pay for Save the Point’s costs in its upcoming case in the Environment Court against the proposed aquarium at Te Raekaihau Point.

Artists Michel Tuffery, Michael Smither and Ian Hamlin, sculptor Nick Dryden and  ceramic artist Katherine Smyth have all donated artworks. Keep an eye on this site as other artists may also contribute.

There works are to be sold in a silent auction on the web, beginning on Monday June 4, and concluding at a function at the McCormack Studio Gallery, Island Bay on Thursday, 26 July 5.30pm -7.30 pm.

You can review each art work by clicking on Read more under each artist below. This gives you more details about the work and the reserve price. To make a bid on the artworks simply send your bid to fundraising@savethepoint.org.nz.

All the artwork can be viewed at McCormack Studio Gallery 355 The Parade, Island Bay, Wellington. Tel: +64 4 939 9620 www.michaelmccormack.co.nz +64 4 939 9620

If you need to contact someone please ring Marietta Wilkinson (04 3836896)

Tuffery’s striking work, Tangaroa at Te Raekaihau Point is his personal commentary about the proposed development.

Michel Tuffery has works in a number of significant private and public collections globally.

Ian Hamlin’s work Calm before the Storm (Te Raekaihau Point), depicts the point from his studio.  Hamlin is keenly sought by private art collectors and corporate concerns. He is represented in private collections worldwide as well as in major corporate collections.

Irish born Michael McCormack moved to Wellington seven years ago and established his own gallery, McCormack Studio Gallery in Island Bay. The South Coast features prominently in his work, and like Tuffery and Hamlin he is an artist of international standing.

Katherine Smyth’s work is featured in public collections including The London Design Museum, Te Papa, The New Dowse and The Auckland War Memorial Musuem. Her work is shown in a number of New Zealand embassies around the world.

She has donated a vase decorated with swirling blue and earth tones for the auction.

"As somebody who worked as a chef for 16 years, I ‘m particularly incensed about the 145-seater, late-night licensed café included in the aquarium proposal," Katherine says. "It reeks of commercial exploitation and bad taste."

"We are absolutely delighted and proud that a group of artists of this calibre share our commitment to saving the Point and are donating their works to help us raise funds for our case in the Court.

"Other artists have also said they want to donate works for the auction and are working on them now.

Local music group Fat Freddy’s Drop has also supported Save the Point with a $3000 cash donation.

Save the Point is also pleased to announce that it has received a $30,000 grant from the Ministry for the Environment’s Environmental Legal Assistance Fund to help with the cost of expert witnesses for the case scheduled for early July.

But we need a lot more to pay for all of our costs to take this to the Court - we expect to be facing a bill of over $100,000, while the applicants, the Aquarium of New Zealand had their expenses met by the Wellington City Council with grants of $200,000 of ratepayers’ money.

And now we hear they have had the cheek to apply for more money from the Ministry for the Environment. If this project is truly financially sustainable why is it that they have to beg from the public purse yet again to get it off the ground! It’s a total farce,” Nick Dryden said.