Christchurch artists support ‘Tiny Art’ for tiny babies

Christchurch artists support ‘Tiny Art’ for tiny babies

Artists from across New Zealand are on board to support The Neonatal Trust’s inaugural ‘Tiny Art’ awareness and fundraising project. Artworks are being auctioned on Trade Me, with all timed to finish in the evening of 17 November which is World Prematurity Day.

Among the artists donating pieces are Dean Bazley and Donna Steel from Christchurch.

Each year over 800 babies pass through the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Christchurch hospital. These babies are either born premature, or require additional care due to complications or illness.

A premature baby is born every 90 minutes on average in New Zealand. That’s more than 5,000 or 10 percent of all babies each year who have to go through a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU). In addition to premature babies, sick full-term babies are cared for in neonatal units. The complications these babies face are often only apparent once the baby is born.

Christchurch artist Dean Bazley has produced a teardrop sculpture from Kwila called ‘One thousand tears as one’. Carved initially with a chainsaw, it was then shaped and worked using files, rasps and chisels.

Bazley commented “One thousand tears as one is a reference to the emotional journey that neonatal families have to go through. Tears are the first and most symbolic thing that happens when you experience a strong feeling; whether it’s happy, sad, relieved or excited, and this is a tribute to that.”

He then added “I feel strongly that we need to support causes like The Neonatal Trust because by helping these babies with their journey, they are helping the very people that will shape the future.”

Dean has had friends with premature babies and has seen the struggle that these parents go through. To be able to show his support for The Neonatal Trust, the nurses, volunteers and supporters who make that struggle easier is a great thing for him.

This wonderful piece can be viewed at www.tinyart.co.nz/dean-bazley. This is being auctioned on Trade Me, closing on 17 November (World Prematurity Day). View the auction here: www.trademe.co.nz/art/carvings-sculpture/wood/auction-978860754.htm

Christchurch based Donna Steel is one of 8 Golden Artist Educators in NZ and has donated two acrylic mixed media pieces for Tiny Art.
Steel stated that she has always had a fascination for creating things, adding “I love to paint and also love to sculpt, so I have managed to combine these two passions with my mixed media artworks. A Total Texture Junkie is a good way to describe me. I enjoy incorporating many different types of texture into my artworks.”

Both pieces include a butterfly and can be viewed at www.tinyart.co.nz/donna-steel. These are being auctioned on Trade Me, closing on 17 November (World Prematurity Day). View the auctions here:
New beginnings: www.trademe.co.nz/art/paintings/flora-fauna/acrylic/auction-978864131.htm
Butterfly Kisses: www.trademe.co.nz/art/paintings/flora-fauna/acrylic/auction-978862842.htm

The Neonatal Trust provides support to the families of premature and sick full-term babies across New Zealand. Executive Director Neil O’Styke said: “We focus on supporting parents and babies during a usually very traumatic time in whichever way we can, whether it’s through emotional, practical or financial measures.”

The Tiny Art project is centered on the story of one such baby, named ‘Charlotte’. She was born at 24 weeks, weighing only 650 grams and spent 132 days in the Wellington Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Now, she is now a happy, healthy 10 year old. Artists will create pieces between 132 and 650 mm to go up for auction as a reference to Charlotte’s journey.

The Tiny Art proceeds will fund a range of enhanced services and support for The Neonatal Trust. This includes the purchase of ‘Kangaroo cuddle chairs’ and extending the Breast pump support services available at the units. In addition, ten percent of profits will go towards ‘Life Flight Trust’ which transports babies who need to be moved to other NICU’s across the country.

For more information and to review all pieces see www.tinyart.co.nz

ENDS

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