Central Saint Martins Auction To Support New Sculpture Fund
10 October 2012 / Art Categories Art News, News / Art Tags Central Saint Martins / / / / /
A live auction to benefit the Frank Martin Sculpture Fellowship Fund is to be held at Central Saint Martins. The sale will give the public the opportunity to invest in work by young emerging and established practitioners. This years auction will be held in the Lethaby Gallery at CSM's award winning King's Cross home.
This new initiative was set up in memory of the former Head of Sculpture of St. Martin's School of Art. During Frank Martin's tenure from 1952 to 1979, his progressive approach to Fine Art education produced an extraordinary group of artists whose work continues to intrigue and inspire today. Many of those have donated work for this auction. Among those is Bruce McLean who has given a characteristically large and flamboyant painting: from the estate of Barry Flanagan there is a bronze sculpture incorporating his signature hare and a drawing by Richard Long. Sir Anthony Caro taught at St. Martin's during this period and Mark Dunhill.
The business of selling and buying art is often shrouded in mystery, reflecting perhaps a peculiarly British restraint and reluctance to acknowledge the fact that sustaining good art and artists has always relied on patronage and commerce. Besides raising much-needed funds, previous MA Fine Art auctions have given the students direct experience of the most immediate (and adrenalin-filled) way in which art is sold and bought. Thanks to the support of Sotheby's and the expertise of auctioneer Adrian Biddell, these auctions have been lively events which have enabled buyers to purchase works by established, and emerging artists associated with the School.
The funds raised from the annual auction are of enormous value to the students. UK Postgraduate students are required to make a significant financial investment in order to pursue their studies, covering the cost of fees, accommodation and subsistence without the benefit of the deferred government loan that is available to UK undergraduate students.
In previous years the proceeds of the auction have supported the cost of hiring an external venue for the interim exhibition. They have also contributed to students' final degree show installation and catalogue, and a critics' feedback session that has become a regular event at the end of the year. We are immensely grateful to the artists who have donated works this year and in previous years for their generosity that has had such a positive impact on the students' practice.
In addition to raising funds for the postgraduate students, the auction has been expanded this year to include the launch of the Frank Martin Fellowship. Conceived by Professor Jane Rapley, former Head of College, the Fellowship recognises Frank Martins extraordinary contribution to the College's history while he was Head of Sculpture at St.Martins between 1952 and 1979. Thanks to the generosity of a group of eminent artists and former teachers and students associated with St.Martins we look forward to appointing the first Frank Martin Fellow in January 2013.
We are particularly indebted to Sir Anthony Caro, who taught alongside Frank Martin for 25 years, and has been a very positive supporter of the Fellowship from the start. His donation of the first sculpture and a cash sum was quickly followed by donations and pledges from other artists.
Barry Flanagan, Phillip King, Bruce McLean, Richard Long, Barry Martin and Richard Deacon were among those eager to acknowledge their appreciation and recognition of Frank Martins influential leadership. We were also delighted to receive donations from William Turnbull and the Eduardo Paolozzi Foundation, artists whose teaching of sculpture at the Central School has a significant place in the history of the College and the development of sculpture in Britain. It was Barry Martin (no relation of Frank) who originally suggested holding an auction as a way of raising funds for the Fellowship. His advice and patience as the
idea evolved over the last few years has been invaluable. I would also like to thank the auction's advisory panel, Jo Melvin, Madeleine Bessborough, Hester Westerly, Andrea Rose and Alister Warman for their help and support.
Needless to say, the organisation involved in planning this special auction has required a considerable commitment from a dedicated team. In particular I would like to thank Madeleine King who has worked tirelessly and methodically to co-ordinate the Fine Art auction.
Trevor Burgess, from the University's Development team, has provided invaluable help in keeping the momentum of the Fellowship going. Thanks also go to Rachael Daniels, Judy Lindsay and Sarah Campbell
for their support and energy.
I would like to thank Sotheby's for their professional expertise, advice and marketing, Mark Cass for his continued support of the auction, and Alix Partners for sponsoring the artists' reception.
Finally, our very special thanks must go to our auctioneer Adrian Biddell from Sotheby's, who will once again bring his wit, good humour and judgment into play to ensure that each of the excellent and valuable works that have been donated finds an appreciative owner. – Mark Dunhill Dean of the School of Art
Prominent sculptors, designers and architects in the UK are constantly expanding the creative possibilities of materials, processes and technologies in order to fabricate ambitious commissions and projects. Artists frequently employ studios and workshops that use sophisticated techniques and require skilled fabricators and specialist technicians.
The Frank Martin Research Fellow will explore questions related to these developments, generating a dialogue with staff and students through discursive events and experimental workshops. As an innovative practitioner the Fellow will develop projects that situate and question the processes of production and related areas of materials and making in contemporary art practice.
The Fellowship builds on the long tradition at the College of 'learning through making', that has been core to the planning of studios
and workshops at the new King's Cross campus. It also connects with significant initiatives and developments that have evolved at the College since the 1960s. During the period that Frank Martin was Head of Sculpture, Antony Caro famously introduced welded steel sculpture into the curriculum. The artist and former St.􏰁Martins tutor, John Latham, pioneered the Artists Placement Group, which sought to reposition the role of the artist within a wider social context,
and Garth Evans pioneered the first 'Artist Into Industry' scheme with British Steel. More recently the Professional Diploma course
enables students to undertake a work placement or internship between stage two and three of the BA degree course.
By drawing on the enthusiasm and specialist knowledge of a con- temporary artist, the Frank Martin Research Fellowship will enrich the curriculum and foster productive collaborations with industry for current fine art students.
Photos Above:
Anthony Caro born 1924
Illustrated HALF MOON 1980
£20,000 – £30.000 Bronze and brass plate, cast and welded 28.5 by 31 by 20.5in., 72.5 by 79 by 52cm.
Barry Flanagan OBE RA 1941-2009
SCALING UP ORANDO 2008 £20,000 – £30,000 Edition: 4 of 8 Bronze
Works Under The Hammer
Various Artists, A PORTFOLIO OF NINE LONDON BIRDS
Josh Baum, CAFE DE LA OPERA, BARCELONA Sandra Blow RA, BATTLE FORMATION
Sir Anthony Caro OM CBE, HALF MOON
Joel Chernin, CHAPTER 2: BOMB THE BASE Mark Dunhill, COMPONENT
Barry Flanagan OBE RA, SCALING UP ORLANDO Hamish Fulton, HITCH-HIKING TIMES
John Gibbons, SAYING/TO YOU
Antony Gormley OBE RA, HOLD
Mona Hatoum, LE CREUX DE L'ENFER
Gerard Hemsworth, SUBURBAN GARDEN
Karoly Keseru, UNTITLED: 1209131
Phillip King PRA, STEPS
Karen Knorr, THE EXODUS, PARADESI SYNAGOGUE, KOCHI
Kim Lim, TIME SHIFT 'B'
Richard Long RA, UNTITLED
Jeff Lowe, CAST IRON PANEL NO. 44
Barry Martin, REFLECTION IN MEANING – MOVEMENT OF ENIGMA IN CHESS Josie McCoy, EMMA STONE
Bruce McLean, DARK GARDEN RED PATH
Colette Morey de Morand, TIME MORE PRECIOUS
Sir Eduardo Paolozzi RA, BUNK
Neal Rock, HERM
Tim Scott, WOODBINE VI
Wendy Taylor CBE, SHEEP I (TWO OLD LADIES GOSSIPING) AND SHEEP II Roy Trollope, THE POOL
William Turnbull, HORSE 3
Armando Varela, VERTICAL FORM
Andrew Watson, AIR – PROTOTYPE FROM ELEMENTS SERIES
Stephen Williams, AIRPLANE STORY
CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS MA FINE ART AUCTION: FRIDAY 2ND NOVEMBER 2012
Viewing and silent auction: 5.30pm – 8pm Live auction: 6.45pm – 7.45pm