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ART FOR SCEINCE RAISES $540,000

Creativity, philanthropy and corporate Australia came together to support child health research for the fourth biennial Art for Science event.

Australia’s most collectable contemporary established and emerging artists donated works for the charity art exhibition in support of the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute.

The event, which has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2005, saw sixty donated works sold and auctioned off, raising over $540,000 for life saving research.

Prospective buyers were able to view the collection during the week at Nellie Castan Gallery, with the exhibition culminating at Luminare, in South Melbourne at the exclusive Chairman’s function on Friday and the auction and party on Saturday night.

Both nights were a resounding success, with a glamorous crowd of over 470 people collectively enjoying the best food, wine and entertainment.

All funds raised goes directly to research into conditions such as diabetes, allergies, asthma, premature birth and mental health problems, conditions which are on the rise in our children, and cancer and genetic disorders that remain unsolved.

The Art for Science event has raised almost $1.5 million for child health research since 2005.

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OUR ARTISTS STEAL THE SHOW

The support from our contributing artists has been overwhelming - their generous donation of significant artworks raised the bar even higher for this year's event, and ensured this year to be our most successful Art for Science event yet.

It is because of the artists’ generosity that we are able to realise the Art for Science vision. We offer our sincere thanks to the artists and their galleries.

Contributing Artists
Rick Amor, Brook Andrew, David Band, Lionel Bawden, Karen Black, Chris Bond, Andrew Browne, Stephen Bush, Jon Campbell, Bindi Cole, Sean Cordeiro & Claire Healy, Paul Davies, Robert Doble & Simon Strong, McLean Edwards, Emily Ferretti, Sally Gabori, Angelina George, Ghostpatrol, Deborah Halpern, Steven Harvey, Cherry Hood, Philip Hunter, Todd Hunter, Yvonne Kendall, Veronica Kent, Jeremy Kibel, Janet Laurence, Sam Leach, Richard Lewer, Song Ling, Dane Lovett, Jess MacNeil, Tim Maguire, Dani Marti, Laith McGregor, Lara Merrett, Hitesh Natalwala, Geoff Newton, John Nicholson, Nyapanyapa, Robert Owen, Colin Pennock, Patricia Piccinini, Shorty Jangala Robertson, Lisa Roet, Kate Rohde, Sally Ross, Alexander Seton, Kate Shaw, Jackson Slattery, Sally Smart, Darren Sylvester, Christian Thompson, Vexta, Jake Walker, Judith Wright, Michael Zavros.

Contributing Galleries
Arc One Gallery, Blackartprojects, Blockprojects, Breenspace, Fehily Contemporary, Gallery Barry Keldoulis, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Gertrude Contemporary, Grantpirrie, Haunch of Venison, Jan Murphy Gallery, KalimanRawlins, Karen Brown Gallery, Karen Woodbury Gallery, Liverpool Street Gallery, Martin Browne Fine Art, Mossgreen Gallery, Murray White Room, Nellie Castan Gallery, Neon Parc, Niagara Galleries, Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Scott Livesey Galleries, Sophie Gannon Gallery, Sullivan+Strumpf Fine Art, Sutton Gallery, Tim Olsen Gallery, Tolarno Galleries, Tristian Koenig, Victor Maitland Fine Art, Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation.

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THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS

A special thank you to the organising committee, sponsors, especially ANZ Private Bank and Deloitte Private, supporters, art buyers and guests.

We are proud of the collaborative nature of Art for Science – which sees commercial galleries, non profit galleries, artists, corporate Australia and philanthropists all coming together for a unique event to support the most important cause – the health of our children.

Thanks to the following sponsors:
ANZ Private, Deloitte Private, Guinot, Kay & Burton. Maserati, ABL, Icon, JR, River Capital, Chapman & Bailey, Hayman, Heathcote Estate, Kails Brothers, King & Wilson, Louis Roederer, Luminare, Nellie Castan Gallery, Splitrock, Spotlight Foundation, The Big Group, Wodka, Yabbly Lake, We Are Digital

Donors and pro bono supporters
Daniel & Danielle Besen, Blue Pyrenees, CHE, Docklands Press Pty Ltd, DJ Dimension, Harry the Hirer, James Boag, Linfox, Michael Milstein, OMD, Orloff Family Charitable trust, Placesettings, Paul Sumner, Red + White, The Greatest Show On Earth, Village Roadshow

Art for science committee
Lisa Bond, Prue Brown, Suzi Carp (chair), Steven Casper, Rohan Davis, Julian Dunne, Mardi Foreman, Alexie Glass, Tanya Hamersfeld, Matthew Hannan, Jane Hayman, Alyssa Jones, Clark Kirby, Sarah Murdoch, Christina Redlich, Lauren Robertson & Lydia Schiavello.

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SEE PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT

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Over 100 people attended the exclusive Chairman’s function on Friday night, and a further 370 attended the art auction and party to see the artwork go under the hammer on Saturday night at Luminare.

View all the photos on our Facebook page.

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PURCHASE ARTWORKS NOW!

Sales for the exhibition works (available at fixed price) are now open. These works can be purchased:

Online here
Note, online sales close 5pm on Saturday 15 October 2011

By visiting Nellie Castan Gallery during these times:
  - Tuesday 11 October 2011, 12pm – 5pm
  - Wednesday 12 October 2011, 12pm – 5pm
  - Thursday 13 October 2011, 12pm – 5pm

At the Auction & Party function:
  - Saturday 15 October 2011, 7.30pm – late

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IMPROVING THE FUTURE HEALTH OF KIDS

Rotavirus vaccine to save kids' lives in developing countries

A clinical trial for a new rotavirus vaccine to reduce child deaths is currently underway.

Rotavirus, the leading cause of severe dehydrating gastroenteritis in infants, leads to more than 500,000 deaths worldwide each year, mostly in developing countries.

As infection often occurs very early in life, Murdoch Childrens is trialling a single dose oral vaccine that can be delivered at birth to those most at risk.

It is the culmination of almost 40 years of research on our campus since the discovery of rotavirus by Professor Ruth Bishop and her team in 1973.

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ARTIST PROFILE –
PHILIP HUNTER

Philip Hunter was born at Donald in the Wimmera District of Victoria in 1958. After studying painting at the Prahran College of Advanced Education in the 1970s, he completed a Masters Degree at the Victorian College of the Arts and obtained a Doctorate of Philosophy from Deakin University in 1999.

Since 1980, Hunter has exhibited regularly with over 30 solo exhibitions to his credit and has shown his works in every capital city in Australia. Notably, in 2001, a series of his works were paired with those of Sir Sidney Nolan in a show at Melbourne University’s Ian Potter Museum of Art, entitled The Plains: Wimmera and the Imaging of Australian Landscape, Philip Hunter and Sidney Nolan.

Philip Hunter has shown internationally with exhibitions in New York, Tokyo, Beijing, Guangzhou and various British and European cities. Other group exhibitions include The Australians (CDS Gallery, New York), Australian Perspecta, Fears and Scruples (University of Melbourne), The Moet and Chandon Award, The Sulman Prize (AGNSW), Darkness and Light (Australia and New Zealand tour), Transit Narratives (Italian and Australian tour).

He has been a supporter of the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and Art for Science for some years. Friends and collectors of his work have been involved with this great charity and as a consequence, Philip and his wife Vera Möller have both felt honoured to be able to make contributions to an event and Institute that has improved the quality of life for so many young Australians and their families.

Philip Hunter is represented by the Tim Olsen Gallery.

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Tips from our auctioneer

This year’s 'Art for science' auction in aid of the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute consists of a comprehensive selection of work by Australia's leading contemporary artists. 

Artists were individually selected by a well informed committee and curated so that once again the 'Art for Science' auction stands out as the leading Australian contemporary art fundraiser.

The works themselves are fine examples of the artists work and have been priced attractively to encourage new buyers as well as the more seasoned collectors.

This year’s venue Luminare in South Melbourne, will showcase the collection brilliantly and will be a spectacular setting for what will be a most exciting and worthwhile evening. The event will raise much needed funds for the Murdoch Childrens and will showcase an extraordinary collection of art.

Paul Sumner is the Art for Science auctioneer and Managing Director at Mossgreen, Melbourne

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ARTIST PROFILE -
JON CAMPBELL

Jon Campbell is a Melbourne based artist who has been exhibiting regularly for over 25 years in major institutions such as The National Gallery of Victoria; The Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney; The Institute for Contemporary Art, Boston; as well as exhibiting regularly with commercial galleries such as KALIMANRAWLINS. 

Campbell is well known for his text based paintings and neon works which use well-known laconic Australian expressions. Jon wanted to support the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute’s Art for Science again this year because – "having children myself I know how important their wellbeing is - so I am more than happy to support an organisation that is working to make children's lives better," said Jon.

The same can be said for the team at KALIMANRAWLINS who see Murdoch Childrens research as one of the most significant and worthwhile institutions they can assist. “It is important to us at KALIMANRAWLINS to see the results of any donations we and the artists make, and if you have ever joined one of the tours at Murdoch Childrens - you really get an amazing respect for the work everyone involved puts in. We feel privileged to be involved.”

For further information about Jon Campbell please visit: http://kalimanrawlins.com/artists/jon-campbell

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VIEW THE
collection

The Art for Science collection can be viewed at Nellie Castan Gallery during the following times:

Tuesday 11 October 2011, 12pm – 5pm
Wednesday 12 October 2011, 12pm – 5pm
Thursday 13 October 2011, 12pm – 5pm

Level 1, 12 River Street South Yarra

Our thanks to Nellie Castan and her team for their generosity and invaluable support.

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HELPING KIDS LIVE HAPPY, HEALTHY LIVES

Special events like Art for Science help to provide the seed funding Murdoch Childrens Research Institute needs to bring bold, daring and innovative research ideas to life.

Last year, donor funding allowed Murdoch Childrens to invest in studies to help children affected by congenital heart disease.

Six year old Mia was born with complex congenital heart disease, and through her short life has had to endure four different operations, including the Fontan heart operation last year. The Fontan operation is a procedure in which the blood to the lungs is redirected to bypass the heart in children with the most complex forms of heart disease.

Since the procedures conception 40 years ago, it has given a lifeline to an increasing number of Australian children, allowing them to grow and enjoy a better quality of life. However, the long term health prospects of patients who have undergone the operation, like Mia, is somewhat unknown.

Cardiac surgeon and researcher A/Professor Yves d’Udekem is leading a team of researchers at Murdoch Childrens, to established a national heart registry that they hope will improve heart patient’s quality of life in the long term.

The ‘Fontan Registry’ will collect valuable health information on Fontan patients living in Australia and New Zealand, and will follow and monitor their health and progress with the aim of determining the size of this population, their life expectancy and their need for heart transplantation later in life. Currently, there is no treatment plan for these patients, and there will not be enough donor hearts for them all.

This study highlights the benefit of our integration with our campus partners, The Royal Children’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne. The Institute’s unique position provides our team with much greater interaction with patients for research, clinical data and clinical expertise than is the case for most medical research institutes around the world. This integration enables the accelerated development of practical treatments, screening and preventive measures from bench to bedside and the community.

“I was born with complex congenital heart disease. I have now gone through four different operations. Now, I am six, I can play with all the other children, and I hope that, one day, I will become a ballerina. When children enrol in the Fontan Registry, they will help all those people, who like me, are living with a Fontan procedure” – Mia, age 6.

Did you know? Heart disease is the leading cause of child death in Australia, accounting for one in three childhood deaths

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Art for Science returns

Art for Science 2011 returns, featuring 59 works from established and early career Australian contemporary artists.All of the works have been 100 per cent donated by the artists, to raise funds for the life saving research discoveries of the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute.

The support from our contributing artists has been overwhelming - their generous donations of significant artworks has raised the bar even higher for this year's event.

The last event was a sell out. Be sure to purchase tickets early.

MAKE A DONATION IN LIEU OF ATTENDING

This year the auction and party moves to an exciting new venue - Luminare - thanks to support from the Spotlight Foundation and The Big Group.

The collection can again be viewed in the lead up to the auction, at Nellie Castan Gallery. Read More.

We are proud of the collaborative nature of Art for Science – which sees commercial galleries, non profit galleries, artists, corporate Australia and philanthropists all coming together for a unique event to support the most important cause – the health of our children.

100 per cent of proceeds from event tickets and the sale of artworks goes directly to life saving child health research.

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Tips for buying & personal picks

If you are not already excited about the upcoming Art for Science, take a sneak peek at the works available, and start making some room on your walls for that special purchase.

There are some hidden gems and impressive works by big name Australian artists, representing painting, photography, sculpture and mixed media.

Whether you are looking for a new addition to your collection or that perfect painting for your home, Art for Science provides an amazing purchasing opportunity. A small snapshot of some recent developments involving AFS artists include:

Sally Gabori along with other artists represented Australia at the Korean International Art Fair, KIAF 11, Dane Lovett exhibited at Colette in Paris, Darren Sylvester won the Josephine Ulrick & Win Schubert Photography Award (for the image that is being auctioned at Art for Science) and Stephen Bush was awarded the Australia Council Green Street Studio Residency in New York.

My personal picks - Tim Maguire to bring colour and life to a space, Michael Zavros for his technical brilliance, Rick Amor because it reminds me of Melbourne, Sam Leach for a beautiful light filled landscape and Janet Laurence for its meditative qualities.

Happy bidding!

Mardi Foreman, is a member of the Art for Science Committee and a Board Member of the Linden Centre for Contemporary Arts

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Kate Rohde artist profile

Kate Rohde completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) at the Victorian College of the Arts in 2001. Since then she has held several solo exhibitions and been involved in numerous group shows around Australia and internationally.

She is represented by Karen Woodbury Gallery, Melbourne. Her work is held in a number of public collections including the National Gallery of Victoria, Bendigo Art Gallery and the Art Gallery of South Australia and has received a range of significant awards and artist residencies.

Rohde's sculptures and installations utilise an extensive range of craft and hardware materials. With these she has created a collection of zoological, botanical and geological specimens, which rather than factually representing natural history, take a more playful, decorative approach.

"I chose to become involved with Art for Science, as I often feel that working alone in the studio, whilst very enjoyable, is a somewhat selfish pursuit. Giving back to an organisation like Murdoch Childrens is one way that I can do the work I love, whilst also helping others," said Kate

View Kate's work

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The intersection of art and science

Gertrude Contemporary's art studio program and research at Murdoch Childrens might at first seem poles apart, but in actual fact there are many similarities.

Both organisations are committed to providing support for untested ideas, and to providing environments in which new ideas can produce change. We share a passion for innovation and experimentation.

And what our artists and scientists need most is seed funding - investment to be able to explore new untried territories and to create new thoughts and knowledge. Our innovators also need spaces in which to ask the challenging questions.

It is possible to find resources to build on success, but our incubators - both scientific and artistic - need seed support. Without investment for experimentation, we limit our capacity to identify alternatives.

Gertrude Contemporary is pleased to support three new commissions of original art works by early career artists especially for Art for Science. These one-off original works by tomorrow's leading artists - Darren Sylvester, Emily Ferretti and Jake Walker – draw a deep connection with the innovative researchers at Murdoch Childrens.

Alexie Glass is an Art for Science committee member and Director of Gertrude Contemporary

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MICHAEL ZAVROS ARTIST PROFILE

Michael Zavros was born in 1974 and graduated from Queensland College of Art with a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 1996.

Michael is the proud father of three young children and as a parent, is very happy to support the work of the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute.

Michael Zavros' work in the Art For Science auction 'H1' depicts a horse skull; the skull can be seen as either a memento mori commenting on the fragility of life or as a ‘trophy'– much in the same way that people covet contemporary art and objects.

He has been awarded three of the four prestigious prizes awarded for drawing in Australia: the 2002 Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award, the 2005 Robert Jacks Drawing Prize and the 2007 Kedumba

Drawing Award. He was the recipient of the 2004 MCA Primavera Collex Art Award.

In 2010 he was awarded the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize for his work Phoebe Is Dead/McQueen. The Doug Moran National Portrait Prize is the world's richest prize for portraiture. Michael is represented in numerous public and private collections both in Australia and overseas.

View Zavros's work

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Improved health for kids

Murdoch Childrens Research Institute's team of 1400 passionate researchers is currently focussed on conditions such as allergies, diabetes, premature birth and mental health problems which are on the rise in our children, and conditions such as cancer and genetic disorders that remain unsolved.

Special events like Art for Science help to provide the seed funding Murdoch Childrens Research Institute needs to bring bold, daring and innovative research ideas to life.

Last year, donor funding allowed Murdoch Childrens to invest in studies to help prevent and treat allergies and autoimmune conditions, including the HealthNuts study.

The HealthNuts study of 5300 infants is the world's first comprehensive study of allergenic disorders. It aims to better understand the history of allergic disease, incidence rates, as well as identify risk factors for development of these conditions.

Childhood food allergy such as egg and peanut allergy has become a major public health problem. The rising incidence is magnified by the extremely rare but devastating consequences of sudden death in a healthy child following food-induced anaphylaxis.

"My husband and I are happy that Jett has taken part in the HealthNuts study. Not only has it allowed us to be able to deal with Jett's allergies more effectively but we are pleased to know that the findings of the study will be used to provide more services to families such as ours as well as helping the Murdoch Childrens find ways to combat these allergies" said Kathy van Schellen, who's son Jett is participating in the HealthNuts allergy study

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