Last night we hosted our annual charity event, Art with Heart, with all proceeds going to StartOut, a local health promotion charity providing regional outreach and mentorship programmes for young people of diverse sexuality and gender (DSG).
StartOut has developed a unique online mentoring program purely from private donations that provides real role models and mentors to help young DSG reach their potential while reducing the preventable burden of poor mental health. The service is fully run by volunteers providing support to those who might otherwise feel they have no one in the world they can talk to.
Art with Heart 2018 featured 76 pieces donated by 32 artists, including modern macrame artist Cleo Ryan of Cleopatra Jones Modern Macrame. Using locally manufactured high-quality sailing and climbing ropes, her piece Surrender represents fight and resistance and the release of tensions in the final ’surrender’.
“I am 100% behind supporting the young DSG community especially in the regional areas where services can be thin,” said Cleo.
“This is my first contribution to Art with Heart. I think it’s a beautiful thing for art and expression be tied to the kindness of giving. It’s telling of the human experience, to give and receive, to help and find beauty.” Contributing Illustrator Ben Ee.
“I live to give.” First-time Contributing Artist Douglas Oliver Bennett.
“To me, painting is a way to show people how I see and interpret my surroundings. I like to use distorted form and vibrant colours to explore the anatomy of my subjects. I think StartOut a noble and worthwhile cause that I’m glad to contribute to.” Contributing Artist Morgan Howell.
Each year, the team at Truly Deeply combine their skills and efforts to create this event with a new charity selected each year, based on staff vote.
“StartOut addresses a vital need in our community,”explains Truly Deeply Managing Partner Michael Hughes. “There isn’t anyone else doing what their team of volunteers do – providing someone to talk to that can listen, understand and not judge.”
Through funds raised, StartOut will be able to pay for the training of as many as 100 additional mentors to support up to 300 vulnerable young people where there is need for its services is greatest, especially in regional and rural Australia.
The theme for this year’s exhibition was ‘True’, celebrating diversity and embracing all of our differences – your true colours. Here are some images from the successful night.
We had so many wonderful artists donate this year which has led to a very successful evening as most artworks have now been sold. We will be contacting the successful bidders soon, however if you wish to snap up some great pieces still available, we will be uploading unsold artwork to our Facebook soon for you to view and bid on.
We look forward to selling the remaining pieces of art over the next month and presenting a nice big cheque for StartOut.
We would also like to say a big thank you to our generous sponsors who donate their products and services in support of the event – we couldn’t hold such a successful evening without them.
Thank you to our Major Sponsors
3M
Mystery Envelope and Silent Auction donors
Cobbs Popcorn
Moonlit Sanctuary
Naked Bamboo Clothing
Natio
Saint Ambrose
Our supporters
Officeworks South Melbourne
And last but not least…
A huge thank you to our amazing talented artists who donated their pieces this year
Alana Woolcock
Andrew
Andrew Firth
Anna McGregor
Bella Lafrate
Ben Ee
Biancia Loiacono
Brenda Page
Clare Flowler
Cleo Ryan
Darren Pitt
David Ansett
Derek Carroll
Dosey
Doug Bennett
Gemma Ditmar
Greg Elms
Hilary Cresp
Jack Hayes
Jack Howl
Joy Murugavell
Lincoln Walker
Mel Matthews
Morgan Howell
Olga Grueva
Peter Bakacs
Piers Buxton
Rebecca Galileos
Renee Blakeley
Rosie Symons
Ryan Lesperance
Sue Albert