I had hoped to add the label 'new acquisitions' to this post but it wasn't to be on a very busy night at Firstdraft gallery in Surry Hills. They were hosting their annual fundraising auction and I had tagged along to see what gives.
There were about 70 works kindly donated by artists to the evening. Firstdraft had planned for live auctions for the big names and silent auction sheets for the balance. I tiptoed around a packed gallery space and managed to put a few silent auction bids in although I did want to hold back to see how the live items played out. For the live auction I liked the look of Jonny Niesche's glitter stick and Rochelle Haley's jewel. Also up (amongst others) were a Philjames, Oliver Watts and Andrew Frost's favourite (aka Tom Polo). Unluckily for me the Niesche was up first before I had truly got in to the auction spirit and I managed to let this bad boy slip away for a bargain to a lucky punter who looked a lot like the proprietor of the Commercial gallery. Everyone was getting into the spirit and I recognised a few artists also bidding up big. Trying to mitigate my disappointment with the live game I had another recce around the silent auction and saw a few great bargains (like Beth Dillon's Institutional Rainbows, top or Emma Thomson's Ray, below) which were all looking like complete bargains for some lucky bidders. I put down a cheeky bid on a Claudia Nicholson but haven't got the call so must've been pipped at the post by some cheeky sniper (I couldn't stay till the death). I feel like discouraging everyone from attending in the future but it is all for a good cause so everyone mark it in your diaries or alternatively just follow @first_draft on tweeter. Be warned, I will be better prepped to bid big early!
Points: 1 point to all the artists who generously donated their works for the event, 2 points for the collectors who opened their wallets in the pursuit of art and 3 to Firstdraft for arranging a great fun night.
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