Scotch College

Investment Art Show moves to the JFA

Works by Namatjira, Arthur Boyd and Dickerson were among the superb items offered at this year’s Investment Art Show.

WORDS: Mrs ASTRIDA COOPER • ACTING DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

This year’s Investment Art Show was given a new feel, by moving from the Cardinal Pavilion to the spacious David Yu Family Foyer in the James Forbes Academy. Our maintenance department worked feverishly to place the screens at angles to gain best advantage of the natural light in the foyer.

Art works sourced by Barry Pang and Anita Archer of Artpreciation, and current parents Robert and Kathy Littlewood, provided all who visited the show much to choose from. Artists’ works exhibited ranged from oils to lithographs and pencil works.

During a well-attended cocktail party on Friday 14 November, the Acting Director of Development, Mrs Astrida Cooper, formally opened the show. More than 100 guests enjoyed the ambience of the JFA, browsing the artwork on display while sipping sparkling wine and deciding which works to purchase.

Proceeds from sales go directly to the Ken Field Fund for the Arts which, since it was established in 1989, has raised an impressive amount of money. With investment returns, the fund is now valued at more than $900,000.

The careful management of this fund provides about $30,000 each year in support of Junior School and Senior School music, art and drama programs, while also providing capital growth for the future. Such support is invaluable in providing extra resources and materials for the arts at Scotch, and in 2009, grants have been awarded to Design and Technology, Music, Art and a Junior School drama production.

Charles Su ’82 and his wife Emily Lo have been loyal supporters of the Investment Art Show for some time now. Both attended the information evenings held in the lead-up to the Show this year.

Charles says Barry and Anne Pang and Anita Archer are outstanding communicators. ‘They put the works and the artists in a historical context. They don’t just describe things with subjective adjectives; they tell you interesting facts and anecdotes. They tell you about the physical techniques artists use. It all just comes alive, and their passion is highly contagious’.

Emily feels that there is always a selection of works that cover a broad range of major Australian artists, and that the Pangs and Anita bring out the importance of art works as historical documents, aesthetic and decorative pieces, investments, and works of great intellect.

To everyone who helped with the organisation and running of the show, the Foundation is most grateful. We hope that all those who purchased paintings this year will not only enjoy their new art works, but will also recognise that they are supporting our current students through the Ken Field Fund.

The next Investment Art Show will be held in 2010, and in 2009 the Foundation will present the Ken Field Art Show during the Family Day weekend in October. The arts are very much alive and thriving at Scotch, and with the support of the Ken Field Fund, they are assured an innovative and exciting future. GS