Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - May 21, 2006

More than 200 drawings, sculptures and paintings, including canvases by singer Katie Melua and diva Diana Ross, will be sold at the inaugural Positive Arts event, which runs for four days from June 8.

Organiser Craig Kilford, a British artist who counts Sir Elton John among his list of elite patrons, is hoping to raise R1.4-million for the Tapologo Aids Hospice in Rustenberg, North West. "I am very excited about the event. When you bring fashion, art and music together, you get something much more powerful and more creative," he said.

Kilford, the first artist to showcase his paintings using models on a catwalk, has assembled more than 100 of his South African contemporaries for the cause.

Dozens of contributions from foreign celebrities like Aretha Franklin, Westlife and Metallica have also been donated for the auction.

Kilford has also created a series of five paintings expected to fetch R375000.

Kilford, who visited the hospice this week, said he was impressed with the contributions from local artists including Sophie Peters, Nawa Nkoli, Justin Dingwall and Hugo Maritz.

"There is so much creativity in South Africa. The artists are fantastic and they have amazing work. They should compete internationally and not confine themselves geographically."

Kilford is collaborating with artists and musicians including Mandoza, Danny K, Lebo Mathosa and radio presenter DJ Fresh.

Lara Portelli-Horvath, Sun City Resorts spokesman, said Positive Arts would be an annual event.

"Our long-term aim is to build a hospice next to each of our resorts around the country," she said.

Bishop Kevin Dowling, the founder of Tapologo, a hospice that provides shelter and treatment to Aids patients and helps orphans, said more than 400 children alone would benefit from the event.

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