This was published 12 years ago
Early brush with cricket adds colourful strokes to SCG art
By John Huxley
OF THE 12 artists chosen to capture on canvas scenes from the 100th Test match at the SCG this week, surely none has as many runs on the board - as a painter and player - as Helen Alker.
Apart from being an acclaimed artist, influenced in her early years by the French impressionists, Alker can also claim to have played cricket against a Rest of the World XI. Well, sort of.
Making a stand … Helen Alker, one of 12 artists painting scenes from the SCG's 100th Test match.Credit: Janie Barrett
''I come from the ultimate cricketing family,'' Alker said as she set up her easels in the Victor Trumper Stand before the start of play yesterday. ''I grew up with seven brothers and two sisters, and we all played cricket.
''Dad would organise games for the 10 of us, plus himself, against a team of his workmates. It was Alkers versus the rest of the world.
''Mum used to umpire. I loved batting, but my brothers didn't let me have a bowl. My two sisters felt they had something to prove against the boys, and actually won 'man' - it was always 'man' - of the match awards.''
Alker was one of four artists at work at different points around the ground yesterday. At close of play and paint last night, all 12 works produced this week were collected. They were due to be displayed and put up for auction online this morning. Bidding closes on January 12. Proceeds go to the McGrath Foundation, promoters of the ''pink Test'', in support of breast-care nurses.
Alker scouted out her plan and position, facing the old Members' Stand, a few days ago with her friend and official helper Denzo Guiney. ''I wanted to do something different, something theatrical. I'm pretty fast compared to most artists,'' said Alker, who grew up in Queensland but now has a studio at Centennial Park.
Though only one piece would be selected for auction, she opted to start work on two canvases; one, using ice-cream-like plaster to produce a pink 3D effect, the other a typical, high-energy fish-eye view of proceedings.
Even on a record-breaking day, when Michael Clarke scored 329 not out, her work attracted attention from spectators, security guards and patrolling police.
The 12 pictures can be found at graysonline.com/pinktest.