Local artists shave their heads and donate art for auction

MEDIA DIARY NOTE 28 January 2009 Local artists shave their heads and donate art for auction WHAT: Artists to lose their luscious locks at art auction WHEN: 6.30pm, Tuesday, 3 February WHERE: Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna, Auckland WHY: To raise awareness of the 10,000 people living with a blood cancer such as leukaemia or lymphoma in New Zealand A group of well-known New Zealand artists will shave their heads and donate their artworks for a charity auction on 3 February as part of Leukaemia & Blood Foundation’s Shave 09 campaign.

Top New Zealand artists including Sofia Minson have donated fantastic artworks which will auctioned off at a one of a kind, not to missed charity event.

Other participating artists include: Tony Brown, Sally Blyth, Nancy Frazer, Sophia Elise, Tanya Dann, Beate Minderjahn, Helen Sherrock, Sharlene Schmidt, Marimba  Powley, Jennifer Christiansen, Juliet Cryns and Victoria Anderson.

With a vision to cure and a mission to care, the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation has partnered with the New Zealand Art Guild to organise a unique auction in support of the 10,000 people in New Zealand living with leukaemia, lymphoma and related blood conditions.

The shave-off will be particularly significant to Taumarunui based artist Helen Sherrock, as she will be shaving her head in remembrance of her mother who passed away of  lymphoma aged 37 when Helen was just nine years old.

“Shaving is not about defying social conformity; it presents the chance to give back to the community, serves as a tribute to those we have lost and raises awareness about the effects of leukaemia and other blood cancers.

“Many lives have been touched by these diseases. By shaving and donating our art we can raise money for the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation.

“Knowing that this will help patients gain access to the support they deserve and help fund medical research; shaving is a small price to pay,” says Sherrock.

Executive Director of Leukaemia & Blood Foundation, Pru Etcheverry is delighted by the spirit of camaraderie and support the artists are showing and encourages New Zealanders to be inspired by the shave-off.

“Shaving is a bold but simple way of showing great empathy and support to people with blood cancers, many of whom lose their hair as a result of treatment.

“We are on a major drive to encourage 10,000 people to shave their heads during Shave 09, held between 9-15 March, and we are grateful to the NZ Art Guild for helping us kick-start the campaign,” says Etcheverry.

All of the proceeds from the art auction and head shaves will be allocated to three key components of Leukaemia & Blood Foundation’s work -patient support (which costs more than $1,000 a day to provide), research and disease awareness.

Other art pieces have also been donated to the LIFE exhibition by forty New Zealand artists, with 20 per cent of all artwork sales being donated to the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation.

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