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Two artists donate original artwork for auction at the IGHOF dinner on June 8 to benefit Romanian orphans.
David Berry - June 4, 2001
Mai Loon Goh, from Malaysia Special Assistant in Administration to Penang State Executive Councilor and also a Nadia fan for more than twenty years.
Michael Bowes is a professional artist/illustrator in England, and discovered Nadia just last year. As fans, they are familiar with her concern on the plight of
Romanian orphans.
From opposite sides of the world, Mai Loon and Michael collaborated with Nadia's manager and
International Gymnast
magazine editor, Paul Ziert, to auction three original artworks during the
International Gymnastics Hall of Fame dinner on June 8, 2001. All proceeds will go to help Romanian orphans.
Michael Bowes has had his artwork displayed at art shows, but never his Nadia works. "Selling landscapes and WW2 aircraft is easy, but my Nadia work was all about design and anatomical excellence," says Michael. "Most places of exhibition want some kind of a return, so they will only go with a safe bet like British landscapes which
always sell."
Michael contacted Mai Loon after reading her entry in the
FANS section of NC.com. "After learning about the many charities that she and her husband, Mr. Bart Conner, tirelessly support, we were compelled to do something as a way of showing our gratitude and total support," Mai Loon writes. "The two
different styles of paintings from two different cultures symbolizes the unity of the fans of Ms. Comaneci in the world."
Mai Loon used traditional Chinese material and techniques in creating her art piece. "The rice paper is extreme thin and the better quality paper...bought from China," she explains. "The paper has to be mounted with extra paper to make it smooth and strong...Special traditional technique has to be used to mount the
painting...decorated bounder with silk cloth added. Luckily for me, I have a friend who is a master of this skill."
For Michael Bowes, Nadia is his passion as a subject. "I ended up with up to 70 Nadia paintings and drawings, not to mention computer graphics, easily enough to fill a hall," he says. "None of (my) original Nadia work was painted for selling, but to express her ideal beauty for art and design, and how her poses (have)
angel- like qualities."
On the subject of the auction, Michael explains, "The Romanian orphan issue is something that has haunted me for more than ten years. The sights and sounds on TV are shocking in this day and age. Worse still is the damage these kind of conditions do to a child growing up." He continues, " As Nadia was Romania's greatest
super star, it just so happens that all my art work, if properly organized, could not only raise awareness but also provide some kind of fund raising potential."
