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PORTRAITS for a NATION
Nov 2008
18th November 2008
A unique exhibition of contemporary portraits - “PORTRAITS for a NATION” - opens at Mumford Fine Art’s Rooftop Gallery in Soho on Thursday 27th November 2008 and continues until Saturday 20th December. This marks the first time a commercial gallery has donated a percentage of exhibition sale proceeds to support The Artists' General Benevolent Institution (AGBI) in its 180-year history.
The charity provides grants for financial assistance to professional artists in the UK whose work has been known to the public for some time who, through illness, accident or old age, are unable to work and earn a living. Mumford Fine Art aims to raise £3,500 for the AGBI - the only charity run for artists by artists - resulting from the exhibition.
In this new departure for a commercial gallery – bearing in mind the current economic climate, at a time when many charities are losing donations - Mumford Fine Art, ‘London’s best small gallery’ will donate 12.5% of proceeds from “PORTRAITS for a NATION” to the AGBI.
This multi-faceted show will encompass portraits by contemporary artists Emily Andersen, Kitty Blandy, Michael Cardinali, Amanda Cornish, Clive Duncan, Simon Erland and Anastasia Pollard. There will also be family portrait sculptures by Dame Elisabeth Frink.
“As a commercial entity I am thrilled to be supporting the arts at large - in this case, financially helping visual artists who have contributed to the nation’s art, but who are unable to work. The Artists’ General Benevolent Institution often helps artists who are only temporarily unable to work – for example, they could be suffering from a broken arm or a cataract.” Gallery Director Susan Johnson Mumford.
A fundraising barometer will be kept up–to-date on the gallery’s new website, launched to coincide with the exhibition, as well as in the gallery. This will highlight progress being made towards (or above) the £3,500 target to be contributed to the AGBI* by the end of the exhibition (20th December). 12.5% of art sales from the exhibition and 15% of the gallery’s Art Greeting Cards will go to the AGBI.
The artwork on display will be available for purchase at a variety of prices, starting at £200 for a Kitty Blandy acrylic on paper (netting a £25.00 contribution at 12.5%), and going up to £20,000 for an Elisabeth Frink sculpture (netting £2,500.00 at 12.5%). All pieces are original, signed works of art accompanied by Letters of Authenticity.
For further information about the exhibition and artists visit: www.mumfordfineart.co.uk
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Notes:
Mumford Fine Art - “London’s best small gallery” run by Susan Johnson Mumford is a Rooftop Gallery in Soho, London specialising in the meticulously-crafted and conceptually-inspired work of contemporary British and American artists. The gallery also works directly with the Elisabeth Frink Estate. The recent ‘THE UNKNOWN FRINK’ exhibition was selected for the FT Weekend's Critics' Choice for the Visual Arts (September 2008).
*The Artists’ General Benevolent Institution (AGBI), whose patron is HRH The Prince of Wales, is one of the oldest charities in the UK. Founded in 1814 and incorporated by Royal Charter in 1842, the charity provides grants for financial assistance to professional artists in the UK whose work has been known to the public for some time who, through illness, accident or old age, are unable to work and earn a living.
The AGBI has been helping artists for over 180 years and is the only charity run for artists by artists. J.M.W. (William) Turner was a founder member of the AGBI in 1814 and supported the charity for many years.
Forthcoming Exhibition:
Paperworks: 9th Jan – 21st Feb 2009 – a more affordable way to collect art
A collection of works on paper and display studies by Stephen Canino, Amanda Cornish, Anastasia Pollard and Kitty Blandy and a different side to the work of these artists traditionally known for their paintings and sculptures. A colourful mixed media work by Frank Hyder created with hand made paper will be central to the exhibition. Paperworks runs alongside The Watercolours & Drawings Fair, Covent Garden, from 4th-8th February 2009 .