September 14, 2007
Media Members invoke their inner Picassos in Support of Variety, the Children’s Charity.
ARTWORKS BY PROMINENT WINNIPEGGERS UNVEILED IN ADVANCE OF “ART for the HEART” CELEBRITY AUCTION
Media Members Invoke their Inner Picassos in Support of Variety, the Children’s Charity
WINNIPEG – Artworks created by high-profile Winnipeggers, including former Winnipeg Jet Thomas Steen’s sculptural collage entitled Blood, Sweat, Tears and a Lot of Love, were unveiled today at Mayberry Fine Art, major sponsor of “Art for the Heart” Celebrity Auction. The September 28th gala is a popular fundraiser for Variety, the Children’s Charity of Manitoba.
Only 250 tickets ($50 each and fully tax-receiptable) will be sold for the fundraiser at Delta Winnipeg and are available by calling Variety at 982-1050 or e-mailing [email protected].
Today’s sneak preview also featured works by businesswoman Doneta Brotchie, Lawrie Pollard, of Pollard Banknote, Cambrian Credit Union’s Tom Bryk, and Winnipeg Free Press humour columnist Doug Speirs. In all, some 20 generous Winnipeggers, such as Wellington West’s Charlie Spiring, Winnipeg Chamber’s Dave Angus and Manitoba Auditor General Carol Bellringer, have painted masterpieces or sculpted works of art that could fetch thousands of dollars at the biannual auction. (A complete list of artists follows the release.)
Drawing inspiration from these masterpieces and the artistic milieu of the Mayberry gallery, several well-known Winnipeg broadcasters and journalists tapped their inner Picassos in the first-ever “Art for the Heart” Media Challenge. Their works painted today – interpretative recreations of iconic Canadian paintings by Norval Morrisseau, Maud Lewis and Lawren Harris -- will be raffled off at “Art for the Heart” in support of Variety’s various programs.
The “Art for the Heart” evening on Sept. 28 begins with a reception at 6:00 p.m. The auction starts at 7:30.
People who cannot attend in person can still get in on the action by phoning (204-255-5690) or visiting Mayberry Fine Art (212 McDermot Ave.) to place a reserve bid on one of the artworks. In advance of the auction, images of the works will be posted on-line at www.mayberryfineart.com.
Last month, art supplies were delivered by event sponsor Mayberry Fine Art to the volunteer artists and coaching sessions offered by Mayberry staff to anyone looking for advice or an artistic muse.
The artwork will be sold to the highest bidders at the gala auction which raised $42,545 in 2005 for Variety’s various programs. That year, the artwork of Bison Transport’s chairman Duncan Jessiman -- entitled Tatonka – Spirit of the Bison -- fetched the highest bid of the evening at $4,300.
All told, “Art for the Heart” events in 2001, 2003 and 2005 have raised almost $88,000 combined. Virtually all of the proceeds go to Variety programming since major costs associated with the event are donated by the event supporters and Variety sponsors.
“Our celebrities, despite some initial trepidation, tend to be very pleased with their artistic results. We appreciate their efforts and their willingness to contribute to a good cause,” said Variety Manitoba executive director Wayne Rogers.
In addition to providing the paints, canvases and frames, Mayberry does the framing work and collaborates with Contemporary Printing on the glossy catalogue of works up for auction. “Art for the Heart” is the brainchild of gallery owner Bill Mayberry, who proposed the idea to Variety in 2000.
“Raising funds for Variety’s many programs is definitely a highlight for us at the Mayberry gallery. Our guest artists bravely venture into uncharted territory and produce some fine works resulting in lively bidding on auction night,” Mayberry said.
Attendees will vote for their favourite among the paintings to be auctioned, with the winner of the People’s Choice Award receiving a sculpture created specifically for the event by Winnipeg artist Jordan Van Sewell. Previous winners of the People’s Choice include former Winnipeg Mayor Glen Murray for “Esplanade Riel” and businessman John Buhler for “My Dream”.
As well, the People’s Choice Media Challenge Award will go to the media team’s painting for which the most raffle tickets are entered.
Delta Winnipeg, in its third year of sponsorship of the event and a year-round Variety supporter, is providing the venue for the event and delectable canapes for the reception. Beverages are courtesy of Manitoba Liquor Marts.
Bill Knight has once again volunteered to auction off the rare treasures, while Jim Ingebrigsten returns as M.C. World-class fiddler, Sierra Noble, who specializes in traditional Metis fiddle music, will entertain during the evening.
Variety, the Children’s Charity of Manitoba (www.varietymanitoba.com) was established in 1978 to raise funds to meet both medical and non-medical needs of disabled and disadvantaged children in Manitoba.
Mayberry Fine Art (www.mayberryfineart.com) opened its gallery in the century-old Lake of the Woods Milling Co. building in the Exchange District in 2003. The art gallery represents a select group of contemporary Canadian artists such as Winnipeg’s Wanda Koop, Robert McInnis, Peter McConville, and Andrew Valko. Among its historical Canadian, European and American works of the 19th and 20th centuries are paintings by Jean-Paul Riopelle, Emily Carr, and members of the Group of Seven.
IMAGES ATTACHED:
1. Thomas Steen creates his masterpiece “Blood, Sweat, Tears, and a Lot of Love” at Mayberry Fine Art.
2. Doneta Brotchie’s Andy Warhol-esque mixed media composition “Soup d’Neta”
THE ARTISTS – “ART FOR THE HEART” 2007
Thomas Steen- Former Winnipeg Jet
Charlie Spiring- Wellington West Capital
Doneta Brotchie- Investors’ Group Canstruction
Bob Silver- Western Glove Works
Dave Angus- Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce
Lawrie Pollard- Pollard Bank Note
Carol Bellringer- Manitoba Auditor General
Tom Bryk- Cambrian Credit Union
Graeme Sifton – Carolyn Sifton Foundation
Gary Bachman- Bachman & Associates
Bob Cox- Winnipeg Free Press
Aidan O'Brien- Manitoba Blue Cross
Bob Sokalski- Pitblado LLP
Jim Tennant - Piston Ring
Dwaine King- Lawton Partners
Doug Speirs- Winnipeg Free Press
Patricia Nesbitt- Great West Life
Wayne Rivers- Procurity Inc.
Dr. Ken Murray - Plastic Surgeon
Kirk Dudtschak – RBC Financial Group
MEDIA TEAM CHALLENGE ARTISTS
Team 1 – TBA (Winnipeg Free Press), Terry McLeod (CBC Radio 990), Eleanor Coopsammy (CTV)
Team 2 – Laurie Mustard (Winnipeg Sun), Chris Reid (CJOB), Joe Pascucci (Global TV)
Team 3 - Janet Stewart (CBC TV), Kelly Parker (BOB FM), Jeremy Vallance (Shaw TV)