East Aucklanders are being urged to throw their support behind a fun local art auction staged to raise money for women and children living in the world’s conflict zones.
The event is being run by Chandé and Jake Oliver of the Pakuranga business Frames Galore.
They’re staging a Charity Art Auction and Exhibition at Rombus Café in Cook Street, Howick, on November 22 to raise money for the World Vision Children’s Fund.
It’ll be a fun and relaxed evening with prizes, food and drinks. There’s no entry free and everyone is welcome. A World Vision representative will be present to talk about the charity’s work.
“Both of us, in South Africa, we were part of charities and that’s always been our thing,” Chandé says.
“When we bought this business about a year ago, that was one of the goals we set out, as soon as we were on our feet, to get into it again. So it’s been brewing for a while.”
Jake says he and Chandé have been in New Zealand for five years and for any migrant moving to a new country it’s tough for the first few years.
“You see all the need, and it’s much less here than back home, but if you’ve got a heart for giving and helping, it doesn’t go away.
“I think it’s part of you, but we weren’t in a position to do so. Then when we took over this business our finances started stabilising and we thought ‘okay, it’s a good time to get back into it’.
“How can we do it in a way that gives something to the community, something fun? We linked up with World Vision and they were keen. We thought we’d give it a go as a first run and see how it turns out.”
They plan to auction between seven and 10 individual artworks, each of which will have been professionally framed by themselves.
The local artists donating works to be sold in the auction are able to include their pieces in the event’s exhibition.
Chandé says she and Jake are hoping to raise between $5000 and $10,000 via the art auction, which will include some works going under the hammer with $1 reserves.
“We were tying to figure out how to get people involved who are not really keen on auctioning and that’s where the $1 reserve pieces came up,” Jake says.
“Where can you buy anything for $1 these days? If it’s a big piece with a nice frame, we thought that would be our gift to the auction and the charity, and hopefully that raises some good capital.
“We’re managing our expectations. We want to get this going and if it’s semi-successful, we’re seeing if there’s interest, and if there is we’ll do another one and maybe make it a quarterly auction. All proceeds will go to charity.”
They were motivated to have proceeds from the art auction go to help women and children in conflict zones by news coverage of the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, they say.
“Every time we looked at those articles the thing that broke our hearts was the kids,” Jake says.
“They shouldn’t be in that situation. We’ve got kids of our own, so as a parent you feel you want to do something, but what can you do sitting on the other side of the world? This is our drop in the bucket.”
Chandé emphasises the need that exists in the world and how many women and children there are living in conflict zones.
“Anyone can relate to the hardship in the world, so that’s a big part for us.
“The pieces we’re presenting that night cater for all budgets, from your entry level to the top.”
Jake adds: “We’re aiming to have a fun evening for whoever’s there. We want to make it something for the community.
“People looking forward to the next one, having a drink and some food and laughing as they play each other off at the auction. That’s what we’re hoping for.
“It’s not a serious event and it’s not specifically for art lovers. It’s for anyone and everyone.”
The Charity Art Auction and Exhibition is from 5.30pm-10pm on Saturday, November 22, at Rombus Café, 35 Cook Street, Howick. Entry is free.
