Parents, teachers and artists have raised $2,320 for local schools by bidding on rare works in the Binit Binit Learning Community's Art & About Auction.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The auction took place at Yass Soldiers' Memorial Hall on Monday evening. All of the money will go towards establishing an annual art program that engages professional artists to run workshops for schools in the Yass Valley and beyond.
The top bid of $710 was for a patterned ceramic jar made by acclaimed ceramicist Janet DeBoos and purchased by Tanya McArthur.
Ms McArthur wanted to support the Learning Community's initiative and is a fan of Ms DeBoos' work. Joanne Searle bid on behalf of Ms McArthur.
A water colouring of a cockatoo sold for $240 to Yass Public School principal Michelle Fahey and a one-hour photography shoot with Nicole Godding sold for $110 to Tracey Longley.
"I've got a family and would like to get an updated photo," Ms Longley said. "I'm also a teacher at Wee Jasper Public School and wanted to support the art program in another way."
There were other drawings, prints, ceramic pots and vases, sculptures, photographs and mixed media art for sale, all donated by artists.
Among those were students who had painted a didgeridoo during the art program that sold for $200 on the night.
The other artists included Al Phemister, Lisa Marple, Akira Kamada, Karynne Ledger, Joanne Searle and Carolyn Young.
Yass Public School teacher Lisa Marple and Wee Jasper Public School principal Michelle Andrews came up with the idea for the art program after visiting Sculpture by the Sea in Bondi, Sydney.
The art program ran for the first time in June and July and included Aboriginal, mixed media and ceramic artists, photographers, printers and sculptors, but to do so it cost the schools around $25,000.
Some 128 students from Yass, Binalong, Bowning, Boorowa, Gunning, Jugiong, Rye Park, Dalton and Wee Jasper were involved in the program.
"The program was so beneficial for all the students involved. Our final pieces look pretty outstanding in my view and it was great meeting new people," Wee Jasper Public Year 5 student Jackson Cathles said.
"We are very grateful for the new skills we have learned," Yass High year 9 student Tayla Silcock said.
Ceramicist Ms DeBoos said she and the other artists would be spreading the word about the success of the program.
"I think this deserves to be an ongoing thing," Ms DeBoos said. "I think it could be uses as a model for schools in other areas."
The director of educational leadership in the Yass network, Meg Couvee, also praised the program.
"Amazing work has been done by the Binit Binit Learning Community," Ms Couvee said.
The 450 works created by the students during the art program were on display at the Memorial Hall for three days following the auction. Further donations were expected with a final count of the funds raised taking place after we went to print.
