28/06/06
American Express Big Brunch and Sofitel Art in the Mountains held at Skyline Gondola, Restaurant & Luge. Raising money for Cure Kids
On Sunday 25th June, a picture perfect day, the American Express Big Brunch and Sofitel Art in the Mountains event was held at Skyline Gondola, Restaurant & Luge. It was a chance to watch acclaimed artists at work with heart-warming results. More than $30,000 was raised for Lindauer Queenstown Winter Festival official charity Cure Kids and the Wakatipu High School art department.
Renowned sculptors Kon Dimopoulos, Phil Price and Caroline Robinson and artists Darryn George, Nicky Foreman, Kristen Peren, Minhal al Halabi and Petra Bagust created works that were snapped up by eager bidders at the leisurely Sunday morning brunch. The day couldn’t have been more perfect, with awe inspiring views of the Mountains from the Skyline Restaurant - a most wonderful backdrop to a most worthy event.
Cure Kids raises millions of dollars throughout New Zealand for research into life-threatening illnesses that devastate the lives of young children, and Cure Kids CEO Kaye Parker introduced local Cure Kids Isabella Davies (10), Sophie Newbold (11) and 14-year-old Dan McKay to the audience.
MC Ingrid Leary charmed brunch-goers with her commentary as guests watched the art evolve. Kon Dimopoulos’s table-sized kinetic sculpture was bought with an $8,000 bid, while paintings by Darren George and Nicky Foreman fetched $5,750 and $5,500 respectively.
Kaye Parker said she was absolutely delighted with the $31,010 raised and the support of the artists.
Skyline Gondola, Restaurant & Luge, Sales and Marketing Manager, James Helmore said that he was thrilled with the support from the local community, with the amount of money raised for Cure Kids, and Skyline was looking forward to being part of it again next year.
The Lindauer Queenstown Winter Festival is home of the Southern Hemisphere's ultimate winter celebration and runs from June 23 to July 2.
Skyline Gondola, Restaurant & Luge is a great supporter of this Festival by sponsoring and holding events such as Jazz Night (1st July), American Express Big Brunch and Sofitel Art in the Mountains and the Teddy Bears Picnic (26th June).
