Collaboration a key of Pablos Art Auction

Collaboration a key of Pablos Art Auction

MIX artist Daniel Phillips had a busy evening drawing portraits of visitors at this year’s Pablos Art Auction, held in November at Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa National Library of New Zealand in Wellington.

Anastasija Bubanja, Director of Pablos Art Studios, says Daniel’s presence added a vibrant, interactive element to the evening and helped showcase the talent nurtured within the MIX community.

“Last year, a small group of MIX artists generously donated work to the Pablos Art Auction but this is growing into something much larger,” she says.

“MIX artists donated even more works to this year’s auction and we hope this collaboration will continue to flourish. Shared projects, exhibitions, exchanges and residencies are among the opportunities we hope to offer in coming years.

“We think Pablos and MIX are well-positioned to benefit from each other’s strengths. We provide parallel services in different cities and it makes good sense to collaborate.

“Working together, we will celebrate the richness of cultural diversity and reinforce the value of connection, reciprocity and collective creativity.”

Celebrating , connecting and fundraising

Celebrating artists, encouraging connectivity and raising money for its daily operations are the main aims of Pablos Art Studios' annual auction.

“It also reminds us how vital creativity and the community are for our mental wellbeing,” Anastasija says.

"Creating a community and a home for artists makes Pablos Art Studios a vital part of Wellington. The auction is a way for our artists to get involved and give back to the Pablos’ community and feel part of the wider community of Wellington."

• Reece Tong: “I have been here for more than 13 years. Being an artist is an amazing experience and an amazing journey. Art is my life, really, it has always been that way. It is important to do something you love doing, and this is what I love.” 
• Luke Sullivan, who has donated artwork for the auction every year since 1996: “Doing art gives me a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Donating art helps Pablos financially. It is also a way for me to give something back.”
• Phoebe Gray: “The community and the support that I get at Pablos are as important as any drug that I might take for depression.”

Other donating artists included Nigel Brown, Vincent Duncan, Séraphine Pick, Kirsty Lillico, Dr Grant Corbishley, Cecily Guarrera and Johanna Grant-Mackie.

Tim Walker presented the Timothy Roddley Cup

At the beginning of the event, Anastasija announced Tim Walker as the recipient of the Timothy Roddley Cup.

Each year at the Auction, Pablos artists present this award—named in honour of a much-loved Pablos artist—to an individual or organisation that has made an outstanding contribution to Pablos Art Studios. 

Last year, the award went to Richard Benge and Arts Access Aotearoa. This year’s recipient, Tim Walker, was recognised for his instrumental support in helping Pablos develop a five-year strategic plan. 

An Auckland-based arts and culture consultant with more than three decades of leadership experience in Aotearoa’s museum and cultural sector, Tim travelled from Auckland especially to receive the Cup. 

Senior art tutor Menno Huibers has been involved with the auction since 2011. “It’s a lot of work for our small team but it’s always great to see the studio come together and put in the hard mahi for the auction.”

Pablos Art Studios is a member of the Creative Spaces Network. For more information about Pablos and other creative spaces in the Wellington region, visit the Creative Spaces Directory.