Artists join forces to raise funds for kids' charity

The collaborative art piece will be auctioned on Trade Me after the exhibition. Photo / Greg Bowker

Artists from around New Zealand have contributed to a large work for a KidsCan charity auction.

The 56 artists, ranging from professionals to students, created individual works which were joined into one piece measuring 1.3 by 1.15m. The final piece was kept a secret - even from the artists - until the unveiling at Mairangi Art Centre last week.

Titled Light of My Life, the piece will be exhibited at the centre until Saturday, then auctioned on Trade Me with all proceeds donated to KidsCan.

One hundred limited edition prints of the art are also on offer, with a percentage going towards the charity.

Director of the New Zealand Art Guild Sophia Elise said: "KidsCan rely heavily on donations to do their amazing work, and our members are thrilled to get behind such a worthwhile charity." She said a big response came from artists wanting to be part of the collaboration, but the guild had to turn people down through lack of space.

Each artist was given a wooden square to create an interpretation of the theme "our future".

The works are of mixed media, including mosaics, prints, photographs and paintings, and range from abstract expressionism to realism.

One of the artists, Rochelle van der Werff, did an abstract interpretation, depicting a baby in the womb.

Ms van der Werff said, "It's important because sometimes people can't afford to donate a lot of money, but this is a way that I can still help out."