High bids raise funds

Bidders may have been feeling the pinch of a tough economic season, but they still showed strong support of local artists and environmental group Environs Kimberley, at its annual art auction on Saturday – buying each of the 92 pieces offered.

More than 430 people attended made up of the bidders and audience from Broome, the Kimberley and visitors from around Australia. Simon Hemsley made the highest bid for the evening, taking home a piece by Wil Thomas called Two Fella. It was made from forged 19th century railway iron and forged copper. Thomas said the piece was inspired by a cave painting he came across after arriving in the Kimberley in 1993, of Bradshaw or gyorn gyorn figures in a remote part of the Admiralty Gulf.

“I had the image in my mind for years, and started making it late last year,” he said.

But what made the piece special was being made from a piece of railway track he’d found in Broome’s mangroves, which had been deteriorating in the mud for more than 100 years. “The patina left in that steel was incredible… you’ll never find that sort of steel again. It’s the ocean that made it what it is,” he said.

Thomas has been donating pieces to the annual art auction over the years.

“What I take the most pleasure from is that a huge chunk of the money goes towards Environs Kimberley and to further our fight to stop the gas,” he said.

Organiser Christine Elsasser said in the middle of a tough economic climate everywhere, bidders were still enthusiastic.

She said most were locals or connected with the Kimberley, but this year a few visitors bought several pieces including a South Australian art dealer.

Martin Pritchard from Environs Kimberley thanked the people who attended and showed their support at the auction, which was the organisation’s main fundraiser for the year.

“It was a fantastic evening and the community support to organise it has been amazing, with dozens of volunteers helping us,” he said. “People were very generous in buying the paintings.”