Baby Bunnies Go Up For Auction
A flurry of baby bunnies is gathering in Newcastle as they wait to find their new, forever homes.
Five, small, individually decorated Peter Rabbit™ sculptures, created to complement the Peter Rabbit™: Tales on the Tyne public art trail, will be sold to the highest bidders next month (October).
And buyers keen to snap up these unique, compact pieces of art can view them at the trail’s Farewell Event on 10 and 11 October before the auction at Newcastle Civic Centre on Tuesday 13 October.
None of the small rabbits – measuring 86cm high, 40cm wide, 40cm deep and weighing approximately 12kg – featured on the trail of sculptures this summer across Newcastle and North Tyneside in support of St Oswald’s Hospice.
Instead, they were specifically created to appeal to art lovers and Beatrix Potter fans looking to buy a smaller memento of Peter Rabbit™: Tales on the Tyne.
Among them, are Lot 31, Hop on the Tyne, which celebrates the pride, passion that people in the North East have for football and Lot 37, Amora; a charming sculpture covered in shimmering hearts – both the work of David Maguire.
Lot 38; Beachcombing with Peter, by Daniel J. Weatheritt is inspired by the artist’s love of exploring Northumberland’s beaches in search of sea glass, shells, pottery and other coastal treasures.
While Lot 39, Peter Rabbit™, by Julia Stafford, celebrates the timeless character created by Beatrix Potter, whose tales have delighted generations of readers for more than a century.
And Lot 40, Ruby Rabbit, by Natalie Radcliffe - commissioned to celebrate 40 years of care at St Oswald's Hospice and sponsored by Greggs - is a dazzling tribute to an organisation that has supported countless children, adults and families across the North East over the past four decades.
Joining the five small rabbits at the Farewell Event and auction, will be a small tribute to an earlier St Oswald’s Hospice art trail in the form of a small Snowdog.
Lot 28, The Snowdog, by Steve Johnson, is a tribute to the Great North Snowdogs event which took place 10 years ago and has been created especially for this anniversary auction, representing comfort, loyalty and treasured memories.
Anyone wanting to view the sculptures in advance should email [email protected]
The auction catalogue can be viewed at www.talesonthetyne.co.uk/auction and all sculptures will be sold as seen.
Tickets for both the Farewell Event and auction are now available at: www.talesonthetyne.co.uk/events. For those who can’t attend in person, there is an option to register and bid online.
Peter Rabbit™: Tales on the Tyne is held in conjunction with creative producers Wild in Art, along with The World of Peter Rabbit™, Headline Trail Partner Newcastle City Council, Trail Partner North Tyneside Council, Learning Programme Partner Northumbrian Water and Community Partner North Standard.
