Cate Blanchett, hubby lending support to young Sydney artists

Melbourne, Apr 4 : Young Sydney artists have found support in one of Hollywood's star couple - Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton - who're selling two valuable works from their personal art collection in a bid to reinvest the money in works by local upcoming artists.

The actress and her playwright husband have got their eyes on supporting a new wave of artists.

"They have got their eyes on supporting a new wave of artists," The Daily Telegraph quoted Deutscher and Hackett auctioneers' Damian Hackett, as saying of the sale of the works in Melbourne on April 16.

Blanchett and Upton are based in Sydney, where they became co-artistic directors of the Sydney Theatre Company in December.

"I understand they have a substantial (art) collection. They have said they are active and constant collectors and that's what they plan to continue to do," Hackett said.

The two works for sale from the Blanchett/Upton collection are by well-known artists. Rosalie Gascoigne's Iron Bark, 1994-5, is estimated to sell for between 60,000 dollars and 80,000 dollars.

The other work is a painting by New Zealand artist Colin McCahon, titled Noughts and Crosses 7, (The First Set), 1976. Its estimate is 280,000 dollars to 340,000 dollars.

ANI