Art

An Inspired Charity Art Project, In Support Of Yemeni Families

It’s really shaping up to be a week of uber inspiring collaborations  – we’re moved to hear of so many creatives taking the initiative to support others in need through their work!

Pattern for Yemen launches today, combining a charity art auction, exhibition and the release of an exclusive line of covetable artworks on cloth featuring the eye-catching artwork of 15 artists.

Melbourne design studios A Friend of Mine and The Souvenir Society are the local legends behind this creative fundraising project, supporting families devastated by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

We caught up with AFOM’s founder, Suzy Tuxen, to preview the art (on sale now!) and find out more…

Written
by
Elle Murrell

Framed artworks on cloth by Atelier Bingo (left), Andy Murray (centre), and Nathalie Du Pasquier (right). Photo – Dan Herrman-Zoll. Styling – Nat Turnbull.

Framed art cloth over fireplace by Bec Smith. Rug from Halcyon Lake. Photo – courtesy of Pattern For Yemen.

Andy Murray’s artwork. Photo – courtesy of Pattern For Yemen.

Wang & Söderstrom’s and Elke Kramer’s artworks. Photo – Dan Herrmann-Zoll. Styling – Nat Turnbull.

Artwork by Atelier Bingo. Photo – courtesy of Pattern For Yemen.

Framed works on cloth by Marcus James (left) and Ronan Bouroullec (right). Photo – Dan Herrmann-Zoll. Styling – Nat Turnbull.

Designs by Anna Kövesces and All Knitwear. Photo – courtesy of Pattern For Yemen.

Marcus James’, Rhonda Drakeford’s and Michael Wall’s pieces. Photo – Dan Herrman-Zoll. Styling – Nat Turnbull.

Atelier Bingo’s and Amelia Graham’s designs. Photo – Dan Herrman-Zoll. Styling – Nat Turnbull.

Anna Kövesces’, Andy Murray’s and All Knitwear’s designs. Photo – Dan Herrmann-Zoll. Styling – Nat Turnbull.

The designs by Amelia Graham and Bec Smith. Photo – courtesy of Pattern For Yemen.

Writer
Elle Murrell
18th of September 2018

What were you up to last Christmas? Probably something similar to Suzy Tuxen, founder of Melbourne-based design studio A Friend of Mine. She was just relaxing and enjoying the summer with her family, when, all of a sudden, she felt compelled to act. ‘It struck a deep emotional chord as the impact has devastated so many lives,’ Suzy recalls of an article she’d come across about the crisis in Yemen. ‘The contrast to our own lifestyle and safety in Australia was definitely a huge wakeup call!’

Suzy is referring to one of the largest humanitarian issues currently facing our global community. Since 2011, Yemen has been engulfed in civil war. As a result, the United Nations estimates that there are currently more than 22 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Yemen, and of those, as many as eight million children under the age of five are acutely malnourished. (The BBC go into the details of the conflict here, and you’ll certainly witness a sharp contrast to an idyllic summer day in Oz).

Despite not having had any previous personal or professional connection to Yemen, nor experience fundraising, Suzy saw the opportunity for her design studio to contribute in its own special way. She floated her idea with past-collaboration pals Kasia Gadecki and Allison Colpoys of stationery goods brand The Souvenir Society, they all decided to band their skills together, and Pattern for Yemen became something.

Suzy, Kasia, and Allison got in touch with their ‘dream list’ of 15 artists across the globe who echoed the same selfless enthusiasm, agreeing to donate original artworks to the initiative. These designs now emblazon a collection of limited-edition art cloths – available online here in editions of 50, priced at $80.

The first edition of each art cloth, specially framed by United Measures, will be auctioned on October 5th at the exhibition opening, showcasing all the artworks at James Makin Gallery in Colingwood. All proceeds will go to fund humanitarian aid in Yemen through the International Committee of the Red Cross’ Yemen Crisis Appeal.

‘The show was conceived around this idea of “a pattern of giving”, encouraging people to incorporate giving into their everyday lives, this tied in with the obvious visual theme of “pattern” which then informed the curation of work,’ explains Suzy. ‘The breadth of art is incredible, we really tried to cater to different aesthetic tastes with the artwork. They are very generous in scale (roughly 70 x 70cm) and have a canvas like texture to them, they look amazing framed and in interiors.’

Huge ups to artists Ronan Bouroullec, Nathalie Du Pasquier, Atelier Bingo, Marcus James, Wang & Söderström, Bec Smith, Rhonda Drakeford, Karan Singh, Michael Wall, Andy Murray, Anna Kövesces, Elke Kramer, ALL Knitwear, Tin & Ed, and Amelia Graham for being a part of this wonderful initiative.

And that list of legends goes on, with United Measures, Ball & Doggett, Made Visual, The Hungry Workshop, photographer Dan Herrmann-Zoll, stylist Nat Turnbull, the team at James Makin Gallery, Gundagai Wines, Halcyon Lake, Kirby CMS, Commercial Type, and Graphic Art Mart ALL donating their time, goods and expertise.

SO dig deep, and buy a beautiful art cloth today ($80- bargain!) or bid on the framed first edition of each piece, starting at $250. We can’t think of a better excuse to invest in a stunning new piece of art for your home!

Pattern For Yemen
October 5th to October 18th
Opening night, Friday, October 5th, 6pm

 James Makin Gallery
67 Cambridge Street,
Collingwood Victoria

Recent Art