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Charity art exhibition to celebrate adland’s escape artists

Advertising veteran and co-founder of Idealog David MacGregor recently contacted StopPress about his involvement in an exhibition of art by a collection of what he describes as “New Zealand’s faded advertising stars”.

Dubbed Escape Artists, the exhibition will launch at the Depot Artspace in Devonport on 3 September, with a charity auction of works by the featured artists at 2.00pm.

“It will be standing room only as acolytes flock to kiss the robe of Roy Meares and prostrate themselves before Grant Alexander,” says MacGregor.

MacGregor says the exhibition is essentially a celebration of ad folk who have gapped out of the industry. 

“Instead of the heady glory-soaked stage at Cannes they now potter away in sheds, muttering to themselves and shouting ‘Clear your mantlepiece!’ at the butler,” MacGregor jokes.   

Alongside Alexander and Meares, the show will also include works by Alistair Guthrie, Pete Burt, Tony McNeight, Fraser Williamson, Brian Harrison, Scott Wilson and recent escape artist Josh Lancaster.   

“We hope to see plenty of today’s creative glitterati at the opening, wallets bulging to compete like rabid capitalist running dogs for the work by the simpletons who forgot the cardinal rule: never volunteer for anything – and, of course to invest in the pure gold adorning the walls,” says MacGregor.  

“Or simply come along and say hello to some of your former bosses and colleagues over a glass of cheap plonk and supermarket edam on a toothpick. You’ll make some old men very happy, and Josh Lancaster who bailed early to daub canvases with some rather lovely paint.”

In addition to the auction, the artists have also pulled together a limited edition publication, which will be on sale at the event (a digital version can be viewed here).

All proceeds from the sale of this publication will go towards funding a youth suicide awareness art project.  

(Credit: Grant Alexander from Studio Alexander)

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