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What do Jimmy Barnes, Archibald Prize winning artist Craig Ruddy and Voyager Estate have in common? As supporters of the inaugural 'Art of Music' event in Sydney in October, we pooled resources, along with other Australian artists, musicians and sponsors, to raise $200,000 for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia.
This first event saw 18 prominent contemporary artists each choose an Australian song to inspire them to create an artwork that could be auctioned at an exhibition and gala dinner at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Artists included Craig Ruddy, Nicholas Harding, Kerrie Lester, Reg Mombassa, Michael Leunig and Wendy Sharpe, and the works they painted were as exceptional as they were diverse. Ken Johnson's interpretation of the quintessentially Australian 'Great Southern Land' by Icehouse was in fact inspired by a recent trip he made to Antarctica. 'There is nothing more southern than that,' he said of the work.
The major raffle prize was a Margaret River Dream Escape of four Qantas Business Class airfares to Perth, Hertz car hire, accommodation at Cape Lodge and lunch at Voyager Estate. Realising Jenny Morris's dream of creating an 'All Australian Affair', guests on the night commented on how refreshing it was for our own country to be showcased as a dream destination for luxury holidays. Auctioneer Justin Miller from Sothebys, worked the room with all the wit and savvy that is his stock in trade, ensuring that many of the works exceeded their market value. Nicholas Harding's 'The Ship Song' sold for $36,000 (reserve $25,000) and young-gun Ben Quilty's brilliant 'Khe Sanh' sold for $30,000 (reserve $10,000). When Ben proclaimed to the crowd that an internet search revealed different 'Khe Sanh' lyrics to those sung in the original, Jimmy Barnes, with help from Iva Davies, was happy to do an impromptu acoustic performance of the song to prove that the internet can't teach you everything. Following the success of this inaugural event, Art of Music looks like becoming a regular feature of the fundraising calendar so watch this space. In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about NMRTA please visit their website (www.nordoff-robbins.com.au) or telephone (02) 9686 1277. |
Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia (NRMTA) offers the unique gift of music therapy to the sick and disabled, primarily children, in hospitals and care facilities around the nation. Brainchild of Australian singer-songwriter, Jenny Morris, Art of Music was designed to build the profile of NRMTA, as well as raise much-needed funds for its work. Jenny says, 'I have been involved with and have seen first hand how music therapy works. I am passionate about doing all in my power to see it offered to as many children as possible.'
To bring the Gallery to life on the night, Jenny Morris called in some friends and the room was thrilled by performances from Neil Finn via satellite from the UK singing 'Don't dream it's over', Iva Davies' extraordinary acoustic 'Great Southern Land', and a heart-rending version of Nick Cave's 'The Ship Song' by the Sydney Children's Choir. Like the two 'A Gibson' guitars that were raffled, the atmosphere was genuinely electric. Even the caterers said they don't often see events that rock them like this one did.