Handkrafted and Adelaide-based art website Bluethumb – two local online marketplaces that value community, originality, and authenticity – have come together to produce Created with Care. The project fuses both companies’ love for exposing incredible Australian artistry and giving back to those in our communities who could use a hand. The auction has already raised nearly $8,000 with two weeks left to bid.
With a shared emphasis on supporting and showcasing hundreds of local artisans, the creative companies paired Australian furniture makers (Handkrafted) and artists (Bluethumb) to collaborate on truly unique pieces for charity. All individuals involved generously donated their time and talents in a labour of love, creating incredible one-offs that will be auctioned off with 100% of proceeds donated to local charities selected by each collaboration.
Furniture maker Josh Pinkus, and contemporary artist Kim Leutwyler nominated Save-A-Dog, a charity that has saved thousands of dogs and cats since 1985. Josh constructed the wooden structure using spare wood pieces from his workshop. He then brought the structure to Kim’s studio for paint application. Josh and Kim collaborated on colour palette, leaving all other aspects of the collaboration as a surprise!
Fred Kimel (Handkrafted founder) and Edward Hartley (Bluethumb co-founder) are both believers in the notions that partnership allows for the greatest impact, and we can do more together than we can alone. The two share a mutual respect for each other’s platform, and see great importance in collaboration among businesses and startups in particular.
Fred and Edward saw this specific collaboration as a wonderful opportunity to focus the lens on how individuals and organisations across Australia can work together to drive change… one masterpiece at a time, one community at a time. Their enthusiasm for partnerships is clear. “While it may sound a little clichéd,” says Fred, “collaboration is paramount to the success of every business and individual – it’s so important to take the time out to reflect upon and approach potential collaborators to discuss ideas and opportunities. It’s also much more fun.”
Created with Care stunned Fred and Edward in both the awe-inspiring combinations, and the immense thoughtfulness of the makers and artists in selecting a charity. “I am staggered at the outcome,” says Edward. “Every day I look at incredible art, yet these pieces are beyond my greatest expectations. They have set the bar for future artists and crafters. What’s beautiful to see is their own art and trade has transferred so well across mediums and captured the essence of their style.”
Bombora Furniture Co.’s Luke Collins, and contemporary artist partner, Tanya Keenan nominated Spirit Foundation, a charity trust which has been supporting the Wye River and Separation Creek communities that were devastated by recent bushfires. The collaborative piece is aptly named ‘Wye River Buffet’ and is a beautiful story of a hyper-local connection: two Victorian talents working together on a piece to support a charity that hits close to home – that’s the reason the initiative came to fruition in the first place.
Similarly, the proceeds of Stephen Ziguras and Anne Ellison’s Tegl Bowl will go to a cause close to their hearts. “Proceeds from our work will go to Foundation House, the Victorian Foundation for the Survivors of Torture,” says Stephen. ”They help refugees and asylum seekers who have been through the most awful trauma to start a new life.”
Many of the collaborations have been made possible by the generous donation of timber by Britton Timbers. “ Their sponsorship of the timber for this initiative reflects their commitment to supporting local furniture makers and their communities,” explains Fred.
The Created with Care auction is open and final bids must be received before 5pm Friday 10th June.
To place your bid, visit www.createdwithcare.com.au
Follow the collaborations on Instagram via #CreatedWithCare16
Luke, Tanya and the rest of the Bombora team, are very proud to call Geelong and the Surf Coast their home and this connection fueled the concept behind their piece. They wanted to convey all that they love about their beautiful local environment with the piece inspired by those perfect summer days at the beach when the sand and sea blend into each other and the sun creates an almost dreamlike state. The furniture piece used as the canvas and the frame for the painting is Bomboras Wye river buffet which fed perfectly into their charity of choice, the Spirit Foundation. This charity is filling in the gaps in government funding to support the communities in Wye river and Separation creek effected by the 2015 Christmas day fires. The foundations next project is to provide funding to assist in an upgrade of the first aid facilities at the Wye River lifesaving club.
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