THE ART OF DOING GOOD It’s a recipe that mixes art, food and fashion - and one that’s expected to serve up a successful fundraiser for palliative care in our region.
WORDS: JOANNA DAVIS
T
he writing etched into the pathway at Nelson Tasman Hospice says: “And if a path, take my hand and follow.” The words could not ring more true for Leonie Allen and Jo Menary, who are taking the community along with them as they organise a fundraiser for the regional hospice service. Leonie, from Parker Gallery, is once again hosting a Spring Show and art auction. She and co-organiser, Shine owner Jo, ran a similar event last September which sold out and raised over $18,000 for Hospice. This year’s event is to support the hospice’s poetry walk - pathways around the facility that have poetry etched in both English and Maori. Leonie says she is motivated by the “lovely collaborative energy” that the event attracts. This year, they will be auctioning donated works from 40 artists, most of whom exhibit at Parker Gallery, but also others from Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough and a few from Wellington. The artists have created new works for the September 25 show, all to a 400mm x 400mm standard size. “Artists get asked a lot to donate things,” Leonie says. “But with this they see us donating our time and energy too. The people who win will be the hospice and that’s a beautiful thing to be part of.” Jo, who is sourcing food and goodies for giveaways from local businesses, says many have been only too willing to give. The event is principally supported by MTF Finance, MS Ford, Kono and Black Matter jewellery. “People are so generous because they want to support the hospice. It touches everyone either directly or indirectly.”
Jo Menary, left, and Leonie Allen with one of the works that will be auctioned, D’Urville Island Series by Steve Bellamy.
She says many people don’t realise Hospice, which opened a new facility in Stoke in April this year, still needs to raise over $1 million a year to run the facility and its community outreach. The designers featured this year are Charmaine Reveley from Dunedin and Elk from Melbourne. Leonie says this year’s art auction has a $400 reserve across all the pieces “no matter how famous the artist”. She says it’s a great opportunity for
people who are not necessarily regular art-buyers to add to or start a collection. “We’ve made it achievable for people and they like knowing that all the money goes to hospice.” Tickets are available from Parker Gallery or Shine. The items up for auction can be seen at parkergallery.nz, where the auction will also be run online this year.
17