Over the past decade we've seen a growing interest in art co-ops - groups of art lovers forming collections purchased collectively and rotated around their homes. When the collections are wound up they generally go to one of Auckland's auction houses to be sold into the secondary art market. Recently the Auckland-based group behind the 2nd Collection took a more novel approach to the dispersal of their collection of 32 works formed over a 10-year period. The works were appraised by an independent valuer giving an estimated value for the entire collection. The sum was divided by the number of members in the art co-op giving each member credit they could use to bid for works at a silent auction held at Starkwhite. Through a process of paper bids and rounds that allowed each member to get a work before moving to the next round, the entire collection was picked up by members who were all delighted to have a work or two that they couldn't bear to part with.
Images (from the top): works by Neil Dawson and Julian Dashper, dispersed from the 2nd Collection, Auckland, New Zealand
