The Painted Chairs Auction at Ken Done Gallery - 03 June 2010
Photograph: Stuart Spence
This one-off exhibition and auction brought together 15 of Australia’s leading artists to create a celebration of freedom of expression – and gave supporters the chance to own an original artwork by Cressida Campbell, Elisabeth Cummings, Ken Done, Michael Fitzjames, Nicholas Harding, Jasper Knight, Matthew Martin, Delma Montesin-McCausland, Reg Mombassa, Bruce Petty, Silke Raetze, Ann Thomson, John Shakespeare, Garry Shead and Gria Shead.
In a twist on Sydney PEN’s The Empty Chair campaign on behalf of imprisoned writers, the artists created original artworks from chairs of their choosing. Accompanying the exhibition was a haunting sound installation by Gregory Ferris featuring words by writers imprisoned in the Asian and Pacific region.
On the evening of June 3rd, the chairs were auctioned to raise funds for Sydney PEN’s advocacy and translation events in the Asian and Pacific region. We raised over $23, 000 thanks to the generosity of each artist and their buyers.
Photo: Jack Hibbert
You can see the invitation and browse the catalogue. Three of the Chairs remain for sale – please Contact Us for more information.
Ken Done Gallery, 1 Hickson Road, The Rocks, Sydney Exhibition: May 24-June 3 2010
Auction: June 3, viewing and drinks from 5.30pm MC Peter FitzSimons from 6pm Bidding 6.30pm
Supported by the Ken Done Gallery, Permanent Wave Media, UTS, Mediaways, Art Van Go and the Sydney Writers' Festival.