An auction of Aboriginal Art in Melbourne in October, in support of the Koorie Heritage Trust, will feature a comprehensive collection of works sourced from leading galleries and aboriginal art communities around Australia.
The auction curator, Ms Claire Mitchell, says the auction, to be held at Deutscher and Hackett auction house in Melbourne on 12 October 2008, will feature over 100 works and is targeting a hammer price total of about $500,000.
Now in its third year, the Koorie Heritage Art Auction has become one of the major events on the Aboriginal Art calendar.
It’s the ˜go to’ auction for people wanting a broad selection of well-priced, good quality aboriginal art works, Ms Mitchell said.
Many of the works have been donated, either wholly or in part, and the proceeds will go towards supporting the Koorie Heritage Trust’s work protecting, preserving and promoting Aboriginal cultural heritage in South East Australia.
So far the commercial galleries have been extremely supportive of this event and we know that artists and community centres will also get right behind us said Jason Eades, CEO of KHT.
Vivien Anderson Gallery has included a significant work by Samantha Hobson originally from the Lockhart River Art Gang, Gabrielle Pizzi Gallery has included a Charlie Tjapangati from Papunya Tula estimated at $28,000 and Nellie Castan Gallery has included a Gordon Hookey work.
Koorie artist, Loraine Connelly-Northey will donate work plus many of the Community Art Centres Australia wide including Short Street Gallery, Broome which is donating five works.
With these initial major works, I can see this will be an impressive and high quality auction said Chris Deutscher, Director of Deutscher and Hackett.
Established in 1985, KHT aims to protect, preserve and promote the living culture of Aboriginal people of south-eastern Australia. Through education and promotion the KHT raises awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of Koorie culture in south-eastern Australia and works towards reconciliation for all Australians.
˜Gnokan Danna MurraKor-ki’, is the motto of the Trust and is the combination of two Koorie languages and means ˜Give me your hand my friend’ and bridge the cultural gap.
The Trust manages a magnificent and diverse range of artefacts, artworks, historical material, operates four gallery spaces, an extensive research library dating back to the 1800’s and a permanent interactive educational exhibition with a retail shop.
Funds raised will be directed to the KHT activities including educational programs, cross-cultural training, tours exhibitions, cadet training programs aimed at the Koorie community and the general public.
The Aboriginal Art Auction works will be exhibited for general public viewing in the Deutscher and Hackett Gallery, 105 Commercial Road, South Yarra from Wednesday 8 October to Sunday 12 October from 10am to 4pm daily. The Auction will be held at 2pm Sunday 12 October 2008.
