Sotheby’s & Annie Leibovitz Plan Its First Gala To Shed Light On Reforestation
Taking a break from the usual bidding parties, Sotheby’s is teaming up with reforestation nonprofit Instituto Terra to launch a one-of-a-kind event featuring a three-week long exhibition, a Benefit Auction, and its first-ever Gala.
By way of this initiative, the auction house hopes to spread awareness about the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, its diverse ecosystem, and how we can play a part in restoring to the region’s Indigenous communities what’s been destroyed by decades of climate change.
Over the last two decades, Instituto Terra has successfully planted almost three million trees native to the forest, revitalized more than two thousand water springs, brought back 250 endangered animal species, and spread the message of conservation through its educational programs.
Now, together with famed photographer Annie Leibovitz, Sotheby’s is working to show its support for the cause by welcoming guests to its inaugural Gala, which will include cocktails, a seated dinner, a musical performance by Latin singer Anitta, and of course, a live auction.
All proceeds raised from the event will go directly to the Instituto Terra to continue with its important work, with artist Sebastiao Salgado—founder of the organization—pitching in to donate all the earnings from his exhibition to the initiative as well.
At the exhibition, which will open to the public at Sotheby’s galleries in York Avenue from September 26, Salgado will showcase 50 of his most important photographs from 1978 to the present, with a focus on Indigenous communities, intergenerational subcultures, and the global climate crisis.
According to WWD, visitors will be treated to a display of enlarged platinum prints from the artist’s studio, and a range of his well-known images captured over the last 40 years, most of which address issues of social and economic inequality.
With the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest reported to have reached a six-year high last month, it certainly is time for large organizations to shine a spotlight on the dire consequences of neglecting our environments, and hopefully jumpstart the preservation process.
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[via WWD and Sotheby’s, cover image via J P | Dreamstime.com]
