Newspaper Article 2012 – Art on sale to benefit hospice

Art on sale to benefit hospice

By Roger Moroney
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Napier artist Martin Poppelwell had the perfect inspiration for creating a limited edition set of wine labels for one of the sought-after lots set to feature in this Saturday’s Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Charity Wine Auction.

His artistic focus has been on Lot 16 – two unique 3-litre bottles of Squawking Magpie 2011 Stone Crow Syrah.

He has known winery owner Gavin Yortt “for ages” and was happy to apply his talents for such a good cause – as proceeds from the 21st charity auction go to Cranford Hospice.

He did not have to look far, explaining that his gardener has a magpie called Bird, which has the characteristic of hanging upside down from the perch in its cage.

“So I did a few drawings of it upside down in his cage and went from there.

The results, along with words penned by the magpie’s owner, form the unique label, along with a screen-printed run of about 15 copies, all hand-coloured by Mr Poppelwell.

It is the first time he has applied brush to bottle, having supported the auction and other charities, in the past, with his artwork. For last year’s auction he collaborated with fellow Bay artist Dick Frizzell to create a painting titled A study in Red. It fetched $22,000.

Lot 16 is part of the 33 lots up for auction, and there has been a flurry of activity this week in getting every last drop, bottle and label spot on. The auction, now in its 21st guise, has raised more than $2 million for Cranford. This year’s event, which is being staged at Sileni Estates from 2.30pm, is the first to feature online bidding, and before the auctioneer has even started warming up the hammer, bids have been received, clearly from rugby fans, for one lot. It is six magnums of 2010 Body and Soul Pinot Noir, from Junction Wines in Central Hawke’s Bay.

Owner, and former All Black John Ashworth, got all six signed by current All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw.

“He [Poppelwell] did not have to look far, explaining that his gardener has a magpie… which has the characteristic of hanging upside down from the perch in its cage.”

There has also been plenty of pre-auction interest in the artwork of sculptor Ricks [Riks] Terstappen who has created a special piece titled Still Life with a Bit of Red.

The format of this year’s event has changed from a formal dinner to an interactive cocktail party from 3pm to 7pm. Napier MP Chris Tremain is set to wield the auctioneer’s hammer.

Tickets are available from [www].charitywineauction.co.nz or call 06 855 8365.

Caring at Cranford:

Receives part funding from DHB but still requires $2 million annually in donations to maintain its free service.
Cares for 600 patients and families each year.
Ninety per cent of patients cared for in their own homes.
Provides specialist care in the community, inpatient beds, day care treatment, grief and bereavement support, spiritual and cultural support.

Photo caption – CHARITY CANVAS: Artist Martin Poppelwell has created a set of unique wine labels for Saturday’s Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Charity Wine Auction.
PHOTO/GLENN TAYLOR HBT1225646-03