Majestic forest raising fire funds

MICHAEL Coll’s Once were forests – Majestic 11 could be hanging in your home soon.

The mixed media work on stretched cotton canvas is being auctioned online by Daylesford’s The Convent Gallery to generate funds to support those experiencing trauma and mental health challenges as a result of the ongoing bushfires.

Open for bids until Saturday, 8 February, 100 per cent of money will go to the appeal, and The Convent Gallery’s Tina Banitska said Coll is one of the “most amazing landscape artists in Australia.

“He’s worked up north in Western Australia and the Central Desert, so a lot of his work is reminiscent of the Central Desert, and all his current work is of the local area, including the one he’s auctioning off,” she said.

“The work is a very appropriate one for this fundraiser.”

Interested parties can place their bid via email at [email protected], stating their price and contact details.

The highest bidder will then lodge their funds via a GoFundMe page. When the money is received, the gallery will hand over the work.

Coll has a particular focus on the natural environment, imaginatively and emotively playing with colour, line and texture. He’s created commissioned works for people across the country, in Europe and the Middle East.

The Convent Gallery, formerly the Holy Cross Convent, was opened by Ms Banitska in 1991 to champion local, national and international artists who work with varying media in many styles.

Built in the 1860s, the gallery has more than eight exhibition areas.