Silent auction boost for Little Theatre
Porirua Little Theatre is holding a silent art auction to restore its theatre in Whitehouse Rd.
President Sandy Brewer said at least $200,000 was needed to save the theatre ‘‘so we need all the help we can get’’.
Twelve works are included in the auction, which can be seen at the Popup theatre at 4 Lydney Place and online at porirua littletheatre.co.nz.
The auction, titled The Heart of The Bay, includes work by Porirua Little Theatre founder Ellinore Ginn.
A former art teacher, Ginn has exhibited works in Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington galleries, including the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts and Government House.
Mrs Brewer described her paintings as ‘‘ poetic fantasy’’ with ‘‘faun-like people with sweet gentle faces, harlequins, clowns, musicians, flowers and animals’’.
The auction includes work by 80-year-old Kapiti artist Cliff James.
He has exhibited work at Pataka Museum, the former Upstairs Gallery in Kenepuru, and at Porirua’s Festival of the Elements.
James first attended art classes in his late 40s through university extension and summer schools.
He has focused on wood sculpture recently, but keeps returning to painting ‘‘ when the need to work in colour overtakes me’’.
Other contributors include award-winning Titahi Bay artist Lynne Iggulden and Dominion Post cartoonist Jeff Bell.
Bell was runner- up in the inaugural Listener Young Cartoonist Award 2013.
He has offered the winner of his auction entry the opportunity to have his or her own caricature created.
Bids can be made until December 1 at Popup Porirua Little Theatre, 4 Lydney Place, and online at porirualittletheatre.co.nz.