Home-grown art will surprise

The idea that art and banking are at opposite ends of the human spectrum has been debunked by the actions of staff at ANZ’s headquarters in Docklands.

Now entering its fourth year, Kaleidoscope is a charity art show and auction which showcases the artistic talent of ANZ staff.

Some 300 people are expected to attend the public auction at the ANZ Centre at 5.30 pm on Tuesday, August 30, and the Docklands community is welcome.

Organiser and auctioneer Paul Bonello said 120 staff from around the world had so far expressed an interest in participating.  And, with 48,000 staff, ANZ has a big enough internal audience to make the event a success.

But Mr Bonello said ANZ believed it was important to involve the local community.

“And it shows that people who work in the bank have a life outside ANZ,” he said.

Kaleidoscope started four years ago at 100 Queen St as an initiative of the bank’s risk section, where Mr Bonello works.

Support for the concept from the most senior levels within the bank have seen the concept grow to, not only the rest of the bank’s departments in Melbourne, but also internationally.

ANZ Board member and chief risk officer Chris Page was one of the many senior executives to encourage the concept.

Mr Bonello said staff artists from seven countries had responded to a call to participate in this year’s show.

While 80 – 90 per cent of the exhibition is expected to be either paintings or photographs, there will also be tapestry, jewelry and sculpture on offer.

Mr Bonello expects to raise up to $20,000 this year which will be distributed to charity via the ANZ’s Staff Foundation.

Computer hardware analyst (at work) and photographer (the rest of the time) Andrew Wilson has been exhibiting and selling his works since the beginning.  He says it takes a certain amount of courage to expose yourself to your work colleagues and reveal your artistic spirit.

“But last year our HR general manager Susie Babani bought one of my pieces so that was a real buzz,” Mr Wilson said.

The art will be on display at the ANZ Centre foyer from Monday, August 29.