Auction raises $320k for brain charity
An auction of 30 elephant sculptures that have been a colourful, playful adornment to the streets of Christchurch since November has raised $320,000 for a local charity that supports people who have had brain, spinal, or other complex injuries.
Inspired by the Elmer the Patchwork Elephant children’s books, the creations have made up the Elmer’s Ōtautahi Elephant Trail, the latest exhibition by Wild In Art’s free animal-based installations.
The elephant exhibition was interactive, with participants able to download an app and explore Elmer’s trail and unlock a series of awards. Artists were invited to send design submissions to decorate the elephants and 30 out of 90 suggestions were picked to adorn the sculptures.
Money raised by auctioning off the sculptures will go to the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust, following a live auction at the Christchurch Art Gallery on Thursday night, together with a simultaneous online auction.
About 200 people attended the auction in person, with another 200 watching online.
The highest bid was $30,000 for the sculpture “Sneaky Kiwi” – a very colourful design that had been displayed outside Ballantynes department store in the central city. It went to a private buyer.
The trust’s project director Robyn Medlicott said raising such a significant amount of money was “phenomenal”. “It’s a tricky time at the moment in the market, so it was hard to know what to expect and I was actually blown away with the result.”
The project’s lead sponsor, Zero Height Safety, were “incredibly generous” and bought three sculptures, she said. They will be put on display at the company’s offices in Kaiapoi.
Medlicott said the majority of elephants would stay in Christchurch. “They will go to a mixture of private residences and businesses. One is being gifted to a kindergarten.”
She added the project was not just about dollars, but about awareness of the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust and its work.
“My big takeaway from the evening was generosity sometimes knows no bounds.
“It was incredible how selfless some people were, because it isn't just about buying an elephant, it’s about making a sizeable pledge to Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust.”
The charity’s fundraising efforts to build its new campus continues and donations can be made on its website.