Postcards for a new beginning
By Emma Masters
UniSA visual arts students Sarah McCarthy and Wendy-Jane Sheppard love
all animals, but their adoration for our four-legged friends goes beyond
that ‘cutesy’ feeling they get when they see a puppy or kitten. These
concerned students have taken it upon themselves to organise a
fundraising art auction for animal welfare.
Sarah and Wendy-Jane are calling on all artists – student, emerging and established – to get creative and help lost, stray or abandoned animals by donating postcard size artwork for their silent art auction ‘Postcards for a new beginning’, with all proceeds raised going to the Animal Welfare League (AWL).
“The AWL gives animals a second chance, a new beginning and that’s where the name for the auction comes from,” says Sarah, who has been volunteering at the AWL for the past year.
“We’re such strong believers in the re-homing of stray or lost animals. Some of the cats and dogs that go through the AWL have had a rough time – to give them a new and loving home is something positive.”
The two second year students met during a visual art class last year and their friendship blossomed through their common interest – they were both doing projects on animals.
“The idea for the auction came about when we got our studio space this year,” says Wendy-Jane.
“We’d get together in our studios and talk about how we could do something practical for animals using our art.”
AWL development manager Des Foster couldn’t be happier about the idea and said it was wonderful to see the dedication of the UniSA students.
“We get mainly primary schools raising and donating funds, so it is fabulous to have university students taking an interest and giving up their time and energy,” says Foster.
It is said that 70 per cent of South Australian homes have a cat or dog, many of which may stray at some time and wind up being housed at the AWL until their owner can collect them. Then there are those animals that are simply abandoned.
“We house up to 200 cats and dogs in our shelter at one time, so a lot of people power is involved,” says Foster.
“Our operating budget is around $3 million a year and we rely heavily on the generosity of our members, donors, corporate partners and 240 active volunteers. With all of this help, we still work with a deficit of about half a million. This is made up with the re-homing of animals along with donations and bequeaths. So, fundraising events like these are always welcome.”
The money raised will go towards a special needs intensive care unit at a new northern annex shelter complex, set for completion in March 2005.
To make their event a success, Sarah and Wendy-Jane need the support and generosity of as many artists as possible.
“It doesn’t matter if they are students or professionals, it’s open to everyone and any medium people would like to use – painting, drawing, photography, anything,” says Wendy-Jane.
Artists will be provided with acid free postcard size boards to create their piece of art – all they need to do is to invest a little time and creativity. With the deadline for completed artwork set for Wednesday September 1, there’s plenty of time to get creative!
Artist postcard boards and entry forms can be collected from the
Helpmann Academy, UniSA Students Association at Underdale and South
Australian School of Art office, Underdale.
The exhibition and silent auction will take place on Friday October 29, 6.30pm at the N gallery, UniSA Underdale Campus, Holbrooks Road, Underdale.
For more information contact Wendy-Jane Sheppard mobile 0402 576 068 email shewj003@students.unisa.edu.au and Sarah McCarthy mobile: 0421 210.