Sir Peter Blake Recreates Self Portrait with Badges on Steiff bear for auction at the V & A to help blind teenagers

Sir Peter Blake is one of twenty famous names from the worlds of art, fashion, theatre, sport and business who have designed and dressed a special Steiff Bear for the award winning charity Living Paintings, which helps blind and partially sighted children and adults. The dressed bears will be auctioned at the V&A on the evening of February 25th 2010.
 
“Peter Bear” is a portrait of his creator, Pop Artist Sir Peter Blake – with a little help from his artist wife Chrissy. It is based on the artists’ famous work ‘Self-Portrait with Badges’ of 1961 in the collections of the Tate. Upon its prize-winning appearance in the 1961 John Moores’ Exhibition in Liverpool, the portrait quickly became an icon of British Pop Art.
 
Sir Derek Jacobi has contributed an “I Claudius”, bear, Twiggy takes a leaf out of her early days as the model of the sixties, and Frankie Dettori’s bear is in Racing Silks. Other bears have been dressed by Betty Jackson, Dame Vivienne Westwood, Marchesa, Stella McCartney, and Joan Collins. As they are a special edition of the famous Steiff brand they are likely to interest collectors as well as followers of fashion and art.
 
Twiggy says: “In my early days as a model, the world was all about the visual; photography, print, make-up and mini-dresses! Nowadays though, fashion should become far more accessible to everyone. Today many blind youngsters are educated alongside their sighted friends – so helping these youngsters to “see and feel” what is happening around them is very important”.
 
Living Paintings’ Chief Executive, Camilla Oldland said “We are grateful to all the celebrities who have taken time to dress their bears with panache and a great deal of imagination. The range of styles is spectacular. The funds raised will produce new touch and sound packs with special feely images, on subjects that will delight blind teenagers, including fashion, sport, and performing arts.”
 
Tickets are still available for this event and can be bought by phoning Living Paintings on 01635 299771. Bids for any of the bears can be taken on the night in person or by phone, or in advance.
 
Membership of Living Paintings postal library of feely picture books for children, educational packs for use in school or the home, and Albums for adults is completely free. New members can join by phoning or by going to www.livingpaintings.org.