Pieces of Eight new exhibition - My Pet Rock

David Parker: Ring, white gold and lemon citrine.

Bridget Bodenham: Various stone-ware ceramic mortar and pestles/nutcrackers.

Justine Austen: Necklace , silver box catch and pyrite crystals threaded on silk.

Heyyy I hope my interview with Melanie Katsalidis on Friday sparked some interest... her gallery in Fitzroy North is such a treasure-trove of exquisite finds... I'm not usually a fancy jewellery girl, but there really is something special about Pieces of Eight.

If you need another reason to visit, Pieces of Eight are launching a new window exhibition this Tuesday (June 24th) entitled 'My Pet Rock'. An eclectic, international group of jewellery and object makers exhibit works that explore ideas of sentimentality in relation to material things... including concepts of what makes something precious, and what invokes attachment to personal items. The exhibition will run until July 19.

'My Pet Rock' is the first of many exhibitions at Pieces of Eight which will showcase the work of international artists alongside local talent - contributers from as far as Canada, the UK and Argentina are represented in this show.

Pieces of Eight
635 Brunswick st
North Fitzroy

Open Tues - Fri 11.00am - 6.00pm
Saturday 11.00am - 5.00pm

Metro 5 Award show 2008

I mentioned the Metro 5 Award show recently when I interviewed Melbourne curator and art consultant Sophie McNeur. Sophie recommended the Metro 5 Award show as an excellent event to view and purchase affordable pieces of artwork by some of Australia's most promising emerging artists. The show brings together 25 finalists in Australia’s richest national art prize for young painters - on June 24th one of these talented young artists will be named winner of the $50,000 Metro 5 Award prize.

The award exhibition is now in full swing, and runs until July 6th.... Be sure to drop in before it ends! Here are just a few of my favourite images from the show (more on the Metro 5 website).

Vincent Fantauzzo - Room 2304, 2008
Oil on canvas
121cm x 76cm

Vincent Fantauzzo's portrait of Heath Ledger won the people's choice awards at the Archibald Prize this year.

David Capra - Self Portrait, 2008
enamel and glitter on board with fimo frame
27cm diameter

David Eastwood - Gold Room, 2008
acrylic on Linen
152cm x 183cm

(I've know, I've already shown this example of David Eastwood's work in my interview with Sophie, but I love the piece so much I couldn't leave it out!)

Jacqueline Liza George - Bubbleboy, Still Life, 2008
oil on canvas
101.5cm x 91.5cm

Metro 5 gallery
1214 High st
Armadale

Open Tues-Fri, 10am - 5.30pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm

Melbourne's Moving Galleries PLUS Interview - Amber Wallis

Eamonn Verberne - Who Did That?
type c photograph
2007

Magdalena Bors - Sunrise
pigment print
2007

Both images above, and Amber Wallis' Untitled (Ghost and Paper Planes) below, are part of the Moving Galleries Autumn 2008 exhibition.

I got an email last week about a fantastic Melbourne initiative... Moving Galleries is a travelling exhibition of art and poetry, showcasing the work of young and emerging Victorian artists on Melbourne’s metropolitan trains.

The inspiration for Moving Galleries came from the success of public transport art and poetry initiatives abroad, particularly London's highly successful Poems on the Underground concept. Melbourne's Moving Galleries exhibition was first launched in 2005, and saw 480 artworks travel on 20 Connex trains. In 2007, the project secured long-term funding, enabling it to evolve from a ‘one-off’ exhibition into an ongoing non-profit initiative dedicated to promoting creativity in Melbourne’s public spaces.

Amber Wallis - Untitled (Ghost and Paper Planes)
mixed media on board
2007

One of the contributers currently exhibiting in the Moving Galleries Autumn 2008 exhibition is Melbourne artist Amber Wallis. Her painting Untitled (Ghost and Paper Planes) (above) immediately caught my attention - I love the careful balance of muted and striking colours, and the forms which at first appear entirely abstract, but seem to morph into figurative characters the longer you stare... beautiful.

Luckily for me, Amber was open to answering some questions about her work and her involvement in the Moving Galleries project. I especially love the description of her creative process - 'I like to be clear headed, drink lots of tea and generally make a mess'. Fantastic! In this interview Amber also mentions many other incredible local artists to keep an eye on... Be sure to follow all the links! Thanks so much for sharing these great finds Amber, and for being so accommodating with my last-minute request for an interview!

If you have chance, please visit Amber's upcoming group show Thank God We Died Together at TCB - and of course keep an eye out for her work and the work of other local artists on public transport across Melbourne!

Tell me a little about your creative background – what path has led you to the style of work you are producing today?

I graduated in Photography in 2002 and began drawing around the same time. I found that with drawing I could capture my un-photographed memories and experiences in a succinct and cathartic way. To me my drawings and paintings have always been like photography somehow, a direct moment, flash of experience or an image that hovers in memory slightly distorted.

The style of work I produce today is really in its infancy but also remains fairly unchanged from the first initial doodles. It is just changing in size, colours and mediums. I remain interested in creating a great line, colour, form, composition and gestural energy. My work is fairly abstract to the viewer although to me it seems really literal. People often want to know what it is, or what its about but I enjoy the process of the viewer imbuing my work with their own meanings. Shapes and forms are slightly uncanny in their ability to morph into people’s own interpretations. I really enjoy that.

Amber Wallis - And My Brain Falls Out
oil stick, gouache, pencil, ink on paper
2008

How did your involvement with the Moving Galleries project come about? What initially attracted you to the idea?

I had a show with Utopian Slumps gallery last year and Moving Galleries did a call out to Artist Run Initiative’s to participate in the Autumn 2008 series. Utopian Slumps put me forward as an artist and I was accepted.

I have seen similar projects in other parts of the world, art in the public arena can only be a good thing right? I also had seen the project where musicians and performance artists did a show on the City Circle route and I thought that was fantastic and exciting. A friend of mine sent me a poetry book from the New York project and it was really good.

What other exhibitions / creative projects have you been involved with in Melbourne?

Oh too many to name! Melbourne is a great city and there are some really wonderful curators and galleries and networks of people making art happen. I am lucky to be involved with Utopian Slumps as an artist and volunteer. I am also lucky to be involved with art doers like Amanda Maxwell, Conor O’Brien, The Contextual Villians and Melissa Loughnan, without a great group of art nerds around so much wouldn’t take off. I have a show coming up at TCB called Thank God We Died Together, with Nathan Gray, Dylan Martorell and others, which will be really fun.

Lucy's note - you must check out those links! Amazing work - I'm ashamed I haven't heard of all these names before... Nathan Gray especially - look here and here... amazing amazing.

Which designers, artists or creative people are you inspired by?

Cy Twombly, Tony Tuckson, Amy Sillman, Rhys Lee, Philip Hunter and absolute establishment like Gorky, Miro, Goya, Francis Bacon etcetera. I am really old school in my inspiration and output I think. I am not inspired by the design world at all.

Amber Wallis - Untitled (Clea and Rangitoto)
medium acrylic, oil, oil stick, pastel, pencil on linen
2007

Where else do you find inspiration for your work – ie books, your environment, travel, your family and friends?

I find constant inspiration in music and writing. I really love Keri Hulme and Jeanette Winterson and trawl their work for images. Poetry is also really great for that. Day to day emotions and remembering certain situations or intense pivotal moments, just recollecting and almost getting into a trance of a remembered experience can be really powerful.

I tend to listen to the same music over and over while I paint. My mix is generally The Pink Mountain Tops, Black Mountain, Smog, Songs: Ohia, Set Fire to Flames and generally depressing ex lovers music.

I really love to travel, place is really important. I still draw alot based on my time in Canada, New Zealand and the Southern Highlands in NSW. I have only done a handful of drawings which may have some roots in the Melbourne experience and I have been here three years now so that gives you an idea how much I trawl through the past.

What does a typical day at work in the studio involve for you?

Well I like to be clear headed, drink lots of tea and generally make a mess. Sometimes the mess works and other days you just have to try again. I sit on my green comfy chair and stare at what I work on for great lengths of time. Hopefully a day involves a flourishing wave of productivity where the mojo is working. A day that pushes personal boundaries, breaks some habits and maybe involves a good line or two.

Amber Wallis - Untitled (Landscape)
mixed media on canvas
2007

What would be your dream creative project?

To spend a few months every year staying at Corey’s Cottage at Clea, just outside of Captains Flat. I would like to work in the studio everyday, having a fire by night, bathing in the bath under the stars and walking with Odin to the dam for a swim every morning. Ah heaven!

What are you looking forward to - professionally or personally?

I would love to do art full time, be in love and travel…keep it simple ya know. Everything else would be a bonus.

Melbourne Questions –

What/where was the last great meal you ate in Melbourne?

This morning, baked eggs at Katy’s café The Breakfast Club, St Georges Road, Northcote

What and where are your favourite shops for the materials and tools of your trade?

The mistints outside any paint shop sold cheap. Any art supply store that gives a student discount, Fitzroy Stretches are really nice and Omnus Framing, they always do a good job.

Amber Wallis - A Memorable Decline (Fear of Sheep) detail
black and white photograph on fibre based paper
2002-2006

Where would we find you on a typical weekend morning?

Drinking tea in my kitchen listening to some sweet record, cooking some huge fatty breakfast for friends.

Melbourne’s best kept secret?

Me!

Amber Wallis - Untitled (Landscape Clea)
medium acrylic, oil, oil stick, pastel, pencil on linen
2007

Susie Ghahremani

Susie Ghahremani - Lantern Giclee print, 5" x 7", $20.00

(left) Treetops Giclee print, 7", US$25.00 and (right) Maurice Giclee print, 6", US$20.00

At Sea Giclee, 8" x 10", US$40 (also available in 5"x7" - US$20)

Susie Ghahremani's livejournal was I think the second blog I ever read and loved and bookmarked... before I really understood what a blog was. (The first one was Loobylu, which I stumbled on quite by accident a few years ago... and haven't looked back!)

Boygirlparty is Susie's professional website - here she shares her many skills.... and she's one versatile lady! She calls herself an 'illustrator, musician and stuff-maker'... and she sells a huge array of wonderful handcrafted things in her online shop... from badges to stationary to T-shirts to pouches... and of course original artworks. Her paintings and prints are often tiny in scale (she's a regular Tiny Show Case artist).... which means they're affordable - even gift-able (and what better gift than an original artwork?).

I'm trying to stick to the theme and just focus just on Susie's artwork here... but do browse her website thoroughly, because her illustrations and other work is gorgeous. Even her music is gorgeous. I'm sure she'll be famous one day very soon.

Must apologise - these tiny tag paintings aren't current... Susie posted them on her blog a long time ago and I just loved them so much I couldn't resist sharing them here... love the background textures/patterns especially....

affordable art online

There have been so much wordiness already this week... I will try to be brief today :) Here is a little round-up of good places to find 'affordable' artwork for sale online...

There are so many more... the internet is a big place! Anyway this is a selection of my favourites.

Tiny Show Case

Tiny Show Case is an online gallery that specialises in artwork that is, well - tiny. This idea is such a simple approach to the problem of affordability. The solution - encouraging artists to create smaller pieces of artwork. The result - limited edition artworks for the price of a book or CD. Genius!

Each week a new piece of tiny artwork is selected and turned into a limited-run print production. Each run is printed on archival Hahnemühle German Printmaking Paper. The archival ink is specially treated and sprayed, giving it an archival lifespan of over 60 years.

Also, its worth mentioning that Tiny Show Case structures their pricing so that a percentage of the money from each print sold is donated to a charity chosen by the artist! win win and win.

Some Tiny Show Case current favourites below:

ghostpatrol - Bear in Socks and Gloves
4.35" x 6" print from original artwork
limited edition of 100
US $20.00

Nathan Abels - Island
5" x 7" digital print of original artwork
limited edition of 100
US $22.00

Tin Lark

I have only recently discovered Tin Lark gallery. They're based in California, and they represent a great range of emerging American artists... including a couple of my favourites - Laura Normandin, Saelee Oh and Scott David Johnson. To be honest I am not sure if Tin Lark sell through their website... I was positive they had an online shop section, but now I think perhaps I was imagining things. Anyway... there are some beautiful pieces on the site if you browse through the artists work... I'm sure if you emailed them they could arrange shipping etc. They have such lovely things I couldn't leave them out!

Laura Normandin - (Left) Bottle of Tears
(Right) Painted Bottle Series: Hair, Grater, Ironing
Board, Burr Pod, Skirt and Livestock

Scott David Johnson - Urban Development 50

Etsy

I find Etsy hard to navigate sometimes... there is a lot to wade through before you get to the really good stuff! But perseverance is the key... there are some fantastic craftspeople and artists selling through Etsy... and they often sell a mix of original works, limited edition prints, open edition digital prints etc etc. A few Etsy goodies below:

Erin Tyner - Yellow
photograph - 8"x8"
US $24.00

Matte Stephens - Happy Owl Print Neat
Digital print of an original gouache drawing - 8.5" x 11"
US $35.00

...and even the super-famous UK paper-cut artist extraordinaire Rob Ryan is on Etsy!

Rob Ryan - Bird Lady
Handprinted 3 colour screen print, printed on "Heritage Woodfree" paper.
Approx image size - 280mm x 410mm
Edition of 20.
US $600.00

Artstream

Artstream Studios is another online gallery and shop with a good selection of original art and limited edition works for sale at very reasonable prices. Examples Below:

Ashley Goldberg
Kristof - from the very popular Bearded Men series
Digital print - limited edition of 10
6.25" x 5.5" in size
US $35.00

Heather Smith Jones
Works from the Pieces of Mama's Letters series.
US $225.00 each

Interview (part 2) - Sophie McNeur

As promised, today I am posting the second installment of my interview with art consultant and curator Sophie McNeur, in which she offers her valuable advice for buying fine art in Melbourne. Included are Sophie's tip-offs about the best places to view and buy 'affordable' artworks, and detailed information about mounting, framing and displaying works on paper and photographs once you've made your purchase... priceless information for any budding collector :)

Thanks again for sharing all your secrets Sophie!

What advice can you offer to newcomers who are looking at buying a piece of artwork for their home? Where is the best place to start?

Do your research!

I start by looking at what the public institutions are collecting. Starting out it is most important to visit public galleries. As you look around the National Gallery of Victoria, you get a sense of what appeals to you. Then research the style/artist which resonates with you. Find out where you can acquire their work or be directed toward artists working in a similar genre or with compatible themes.

Can you list a few galleries in Melbourne that you would recommend if people are in the market for ‘affordable’ artwork?

If you can spend a little more definitely visit Sophie Gannon Gallery in Richmond. The gallery is situated amidst a cluster a commercial galleries all worth a visit. It is near enough to Space Furniture for different kind of Art fix!

the current exhibition at Sophie Gannon Gallery - Nicholas Harding: on drawing and paint
May 6 - May 31 2008

The current exhibition at Sophie Gannon Gallery - Nicholas Harding: on drawing and paint

In the swell (red boogie board and figures)
Nicholas Harding 2008

(part of the current exhibition at Sophie Gannon Gallery - Nicholas Harding: on drawing and paint)

Speedos and lotion bottle
Nicholas Harding 2008

(part of the current exhibition at Sophie Gannon Gallery - Nicholas Harding: on drawing and paint)

Sophie Gannon Gallery
2 Albert st
Richmond 3121

Open Tues - Sat, 11am - 5pm or by appointment

Neon Parc
1/53 Bourke Street
Melbourne 3000

Open Wed - Sat, 12am - 6pm or by appointment

Recommendations for artwork under $2000:

- Art Fairs (Melbourne Art Fair is coming up soon, 30th Aug - 3rd August 2008)

Melbourne Art Fair
Royal Exhibition Building Melbourne

- For emerging artists VCA graduate exhibitions are brilliant. It is an achievement to be in a graduate exhibition. (VCA publicise upcoming events like this on their website here)

- Metro 5 Art Award - finalists artworks are for sale + some artists do not yet have representation. (The 2008 Metro 5 award exhibition is very soon, June 10th - 6th July! More info and a list of artists here)

Natasha Bieniek
3 A.M. (2008)

(Part of the Metro 5 Gallery upcoming award show, June 10th - July 6th 2008)

David Eastwood
Gold Room (2008)

(Part of the Metro 5 Gallery upcoming award show, June 10th - July 6th 2008)

Metro 5 gallery
1214 High st
Armadale

Open Tues-Fri, 10am - 5.30pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm

- Until Never
2nd floor, 3-5 Hosier Lane
Melbourne
(enter from Rutledge Lane)

Open Wed-Sat, 12-6pm

When they’ve selected something to buy, what key things should buyers look out for when purchasing an artwork, ie:
- should the work always be signed and dated by the artist?

Yes - if it’s not ask if it can be.

- How should photographs/prints be numbered?

That’s up to the individual artist; some emerging photographers produce editions of 5, 6, or 10. Tracey Moffatt’s something more series of 9 images are an edition of 30. If they were not the public institutions would not be able to collect them, and an artist of her international reputation is aware of this, and will usually produce a higher number of edition works.

Two images from Tracey Moffatt's Something More series (1989)

- What is the maximum size an edition should be? How does the size of the edition affect the price of each piece?

Some photographic galleries increase the cost of a photo as each auditioned work sells. An artist such as Tracy Moffatt needs a higher edition to create a market. When an edition is completely sold out naturally the works value increases. Auction houses can play a role at this stage.

- How should photographs/works on paper be framed/mounted to best protect the work?

I frame contemporary works in the original format of the artist. The photographs should be archival prints. Photographs are a special case because some types may be affected by alkalinity: they should not therefore come into contact with an alkaline buffered board. A pure, unbuffered cotton museum board is now commercially available. UV filtering glass should be strongly considered for conservation level. Light exposure has a pronounced effect on paper condition and pigments. The back board should be made of a stable, rigid material, such as pH neutral conservation backing board.

- Should buyers be wary of where they plan to hang their piece at home? (ie is it bad to hang original artwork in a damp place like a bathroom, or in direct sunlight etc?)

- Store photographs in a cool environment as this will help to slow deterioration.

- Avoid very damp or dry conditions, and particularly fluctuations between the two. Aim for a stable environment and if possible, a relative humidity within the range 30-40%.

- Avoid displaying photographs at high light levels or for extended periods of time. Ultraviolet filtering glazing helps protect photographs during light exposure.

- Keep handling to a minimum and avoid touching the image later. Make sure your hands are clean and dry or wear cotton gloves, and handle photographs by the edges, using a support such as a sheet of stiff paper or card to move fragile photographs.

- Keep and display photographs in good quality storage and framing materials.

Can you list any upcoming Australian artists worth keeping an eye on?

Anthony Lister
Jasper Knight
Kirra Jamison
eX de Medici
Marc de Jong

Kirra Jamison
May your wishes all come true (2007)

(image from the Sophie Gannon Gallery website)

Your personal favourite artists - either from Australia or worldwide?

Lucian Freud, Anselm Kiefer, Francis Bacon, Gerhard Richter, David Salle, John Michel Basquiat, Balthus, Banksy and Paul Cezanne.

David Salle
Mr. Lucky (1998)

(image from the Saatchi Gallery website)

Do you have a favourite piece of artwork that you own? What is special about it to you?

Marc de Jong painted the first painting I bought - ‘Mad Max’. Marc has since done a series of these works - more info here.

Interview (part 1) - Sophie McNeur

Today I am very excited to share the first installment of this two-part interview with Melbourne based art consultant and curator Sophie McNeur. When I first started thinking about doing a little research into commercial art in Melbourne for this site, Sophie immediately popped into my mind as the best person to talk to! Sophie started her career in the fine arts at Metro 5 Gallery in Melbourne - a gallery specialising in contemporary work, and with a reputation for supporting and representing emerging Australian artists. After three years here Sophie moved on to Gould Galleries (where she now works) - a very different gallery with a focus on highly respected established Australian artists. Gould exhibits works by Australia's most important 19th and 20th century artists, as well as a select group of the country's most dynamic contemporary and international artists.

Sophie's responses to my questions were so fantastically detailed and carefully considered, so I thought it best to break up her interview in two parts. So, today is an introduction to Sophie, her career path and the ins and outs of working in a commercial gallery. Sophie shares her unique insight into the role of curator and consultant in the commercial art sector, and also shares with us some examples of work by her favourite collectible Australian artists. You can sense Sophie's passion for Australian Art and for her work in every single response..! I feel very lucky to be able to share her expertise here. :)

But for those of you super keen to get started on your own personal art collection(!!), you'll have to wait until Tomorrow, when I'll post the second half of this interview. This will include Sophie's valuable advice on researching and buying and original art in Melbourne, which galleries/events to attend to find reasonably-priced work by emerging artists, and Sophie's shortlist of Australian artists to keep an eye on. - Thanks so much Sophie!

Tell me a little about your career background - what did you study and what path led you to what you’re doing now?

I completed a Masters in Art Curatorship at Melbourne University. My undergraduate qualification was an Arts Degree at Monash University, majoring in Psychology and Politics with History minor. I completed a Graduate Diploma in Fine Art, hoping to diversify from the fashion industry to the Arts. Art has always been my main area of interest.

A component of the masters was an internship in a cultural institution. I was introduced to a girl who was employed as a senior registrar at the National Gallery of Victoria. She accepted me as her volunteer and taught me computer based cataloguing systems for artworks.

Which galleries and artists have you been involved with?

Upon completion of the Masters Degree I commenced working for commercial arts business Metro 5 Gallery. I worked as an art consultant/curator with Metro 5 Gallery for three years. The position encompassed all aspects of a commercial gallery. Metro 5 Gallery specialised in contemporary art, and was very pro active in supporting emerging artists, offering an art prize and giving young artists a change to hold their first solo exhibition. I thoroughly enjoyed dealing with the general public, other art institutions and artists.

Metro 5 Gallery is currently showing latest works by Michael Peck until June 8th. (images below)

Michael Peck - Untitled (2007)
oil on canvas

Michael Peck - The Second Hearing (2008)
oil on canvas

I love Australian art, both traditional and contemporary. Originality and an aesthetic component attract me to an artwork initially, but I am especially drawn to artworks which have either a political or social meaning.

I was interested in advising institutional, corporate, and private clients with regard to the formation, development and management of their art collections, so I commenced working for Gould Galleries, which is highly regarded for modern and contemporary art. The artists exhibited at Gould galleries are often the same artists being collected and exhibited in the public institutions. Gould Galleries has exhibited the finest quality works by Australia's most important 19th and 20th century artists, as well as a select group of the country's most dynamic contemporary and international artists.

Below - Gould Galleries' Autumn Collection 2008 is on show until July 2nd, and includes the following works:

Charles Blackman - The Trance (1965)
oil on paper on composition board

David Larwill - Time (2008)
wood, plastic, tin and rubber on composition board

Lucien Freud - Bella (1987)
etching, edition of 50

At Metro 5 Gallery I have been very lucky to work with their exciting stable of artists including, John Olsen, Anthony Lister, Jasper Knight and Jason Benjamin.

Anthony Lister - Cold Rock Croc (2007)
mixed media on canvas

Gould galleries enable me to work with paintings by my favourite Modern artists such as Albert Tucker whose work I adore, as well as Brisbane artist Scott Redford whose oeuvre is continually evolving. Contemporary artists are often multi-disciplinary their art practice encompassing painting, sculpture, site-specific installation, collage, photography and video.

Scott Redford’s work explores identity politics and popular culture revolving around his upbringing in Surfers Paradise (Queensland, Australia). Redford regularly incorporates aspects of his physical and cultural surroundings into his art practice and uses both traditional and improvised materials with wit and poignancy. Surfboards for example take on a new role and purpose when painted in fluorescent colours with images of generic Gold coast high-rises and palm trees. I guess in some ways Scott Redford’s work reminds me of my university job as a retail assistant at Melbourne ‘Surf Dive n’ Ski’.

Image above left
Scott Redford - Surf Painting : The Higher Beings Command Paint Palm Trees Instead (2007)
resin and fibreglass over acrylic on foam with decal

Image above right
Scott Redford - proposal for a Surfer's Paradise public sculpture: Hugh Jackman (2007)
painted laser cut acrylic

Scott Redford - made for use in the proposed feature film Reinhardt Dammn (2008) /
Point of Sale Display Item for the Honey Pump recording Skull Star
glazed ceramic, edition of 30

Another of my favourites, and luckily, a Gould Galleries artist, is Canberra based eX de Medici who work is beautiful and emotional with a strong social message. Melbourne artist Marc de Jong also comments on our consumer driven society.

eX de Medici - Take #5 (2005)
watercolour and metallic pigment on paper

eX de Medici - Drone I / Hearts + Minds (We Love a Theme Park) IIII III (2006)
watercolour on paper

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

There is not really a typical day. It may involve visiting artists' studios to learn about their work and select pieces for exhibitions. Evaluating art works that collectors wish to consign to the gallery, in cases authenticating and researching these. Selecting art from the storage facility to be displayed in the gallery spaces and working with curators at other museums to organise travelling exhibitions. Researching and Writing about art for catalogues, brochures, magazines, valuations or books, and helping corporations develop art collections.

A museum/art gallery curator acquires, cares for, develops, displays and interprets a collection of artefacts or works of art in order to inform, educate and entertain the public. The emphasis of the role in a commercial gallery moves away from a purely academic research function towards a broader-ranging career, which includes aspects such as: public relations; marketing; fundraising; education and access activities.

Art Fairs are a great opportunity for commercial galleries to work together to share expertise. When organising exhibitions for Art Fairs, curators need to publicise and market them appropriately to ensure they appeal to a wide cross-section of the general public, including overseas tourists.

I guess daily task revolve around a combination of:
cataloguing acquisitions and keeping records; researching and writing catalogues; planning, organising, interpreting and presenting exhibitions; caring for the collection; negotiating consignments and sales; handling enquiries from researchers and the public; giving presentations; talking to individuals and groups about exhibits; dealing with enquiries from a variety of clients; networking with other museum and art gallery professionals and outside agencies through meetings and collaborative projects.

Curators in a commercial gallery direct the acquisition, storage, and exhibition of artworks including negotiating and authorizing sales. They are also responsible for authenticating, evaluating, and categorizing the specimens in a collection. Curators help conduct the galleries research projects and related educational programs. Today, an increasing part of a curator’s duties involves fundraising and promotion, which may include the writing and reviewing of grant proposals, journal articles, and publicity materials such as magazine editorial, as well as attendance at conventions, and art fairs.

Curators working in large institutions may be highly specialised. Some curators maintain their collections, others do research, and others perform administrative tasks. In small commercial galleries a curator may be responsible for a number of tasks, from maintaining collections to directing the affairs of the gallery. In small commercial galleries curators manage, care for, preserve, treat, and document works of art, which may require substantial historical research. They use special lights, and other equipment to examine objects and determine their condition and the appropriate method for preserving them. If a work of art is not in a stable condition a curator will seek the expertise of a professional conservator to treat the item and minimise the deterioration or if possible to restore an artwork to its original state. Conservators usually specialize in a particular material or group of objects, such as documents and books, paintings, decorative arts, textiles, metals, or architectural material.

Curators need computer skills and the ability to work with electronic databases. Many curators are responsible for posting information on the Internet, so they also need to be familiar with digital imaging, and copyright law.

Curators must be flexible because of their wide variety of duties, among which are the design and presentation of exhibits. In small museums, curators also need manual dexterity to build exhibits or restore objects.

What's the best thing about your job?

Being surrounded by such stimulating and inspiring art works make you feel so lucky and grateful for all the opportunities you’ve had and the experience you continue to have. I’m eagerly anticipating the Melbourne Art Fair 2008 where we will exhibit Scott Redford’s new work. This biannual fair is an opportunity to meet many knowledgeable curators, writers, artists and individuals interested in art that it is definitely a highlight.

And the worst?

Quiet Days…
and because Gould is a commercial gallery, many emerging artists approach us to sell their work. Gould is predominantly a secondary market business so we deal with only a handful of contemporary artists. Artists represented at Gould Galleries are already in the collections of Australia’s leading public institutions. Gould Galleries do not take emerging artists, as we would not adequately represent their work despite it often being of exceptional quality. Our clients are looking for artists with an existing reputation even if they are not widely known. Clients do look for new directions, and wish to be educated, but Gould is not the space for a first exhibition. Occasionally artists who apply for representation are offended when we say no to their work. The work may be fantastic, however not suited to our particular gallery. This happens usually when Gould Galleries are not well known to the applicant and they have not researched the gallery.

...Stay tuned for the second installment of Sophie's interview tomorrow!

NYC gallery - Charmingwall

Last week I got an email from Katie McClenahan, who is the director of a small independent gallery in NYC's West Village. 'Charmingwall' specialises in a curated collection of open-edition fine art prints, and lucky for those of us outside the US, they have an extensive collection of work available for sale through their online shop. I'm assuming from their very reasonable prices (ie prints for US$20!) that these are mostly photographic prints of the original artwork? But Charmingwall does also sell the originals and limited edition prints by the same artists... (you may need to email them for more specific info about original works).

Charmingwall represent artists from a variety of backgrounds, from fine arts to comic-book culture and everything inbetween. Most of the work has an illustrative feel and is largely figurative in style, however this is where the similarities end... the work on offer covers a broad range of aesthetic influences - there are elements of street-art, fashion illustration, and very decorative, ornate detailing which reminded me of traditional folk arts and even textile design...

Grey Dog by Fred Chao

Barnacles and Butterflies by Evan B. Harris

Briar Patch by Andrea L. Peterson

The brand new Charmingwall website is a little work of animated art in itself - I'm always a sucker for hand-drawn type, and the animated element is really effective and, well, charming :)
To keep up with all Charmingwall news be sure to bookmark their blog as well as their website.

More of Charmingwall in the press here and here.

Whale & Innards by Evan B. Harris

a week of 'affordable' art

This is a first for The Design Files, but I have a theme in mind for this week's posts - and its all about 'affordable' art. I have noticed a lot of interest recently in this idea - and although 'affordable' is a very broad (and subjective!) term, I think it's worth featuring artists and artworks that are accessible even to those of us on a budget! (and really, who isn't?). So I hope you'll forgive the generalisations... and that you'll enjoy a week of articles about researching, buying and collecting original art for your own home. Here's what I'm looking forward to:

- a two-part interview with Melbourne art consultant Sophie McNeur, who offers her valuable advice on buying and displaying original artwork, and shares her own shortlist of emerging Australian artists to keep an eye on!
- a little round up of online galleries offering limited edition prints, original works on paper and photographs at very reasonable prices.
- a look at one of the very first artist/bloggers I ever bookmarked many moons ago when I first discovered the amazing world of blogs... I still love her work and hope you will too!

Interview - Arlene TextaQueen

I guess comfortable may be an overstatement (Amber) for Texta's Felt-tips Forever show in Brooklyn, NY, 2006.

Some things never change (Leah) and It could be anyone (Vanessa), both 2007 - for the exhibition
and publication If you see Something, Say Something

Texta drawing in her sketchbook

Its not really stealing if it were meant to me mine (Michelle) from the Felt-tips Forever show in Brooklyn, NY.

Arlene Textaqueen is part super-hero, part artist-performance artist-art curator, and general all-round kooky Melbourne cultural character.

Texta's artwork is inspired by many things, but some of the key themes in her most recent work are queer and feminist culture, Australian national identity and voyeurism. Her work is an eccentric blend of at times quite politicised subject matter, balanced by a playful, cheeky aesthetic. But don't underestimate the power of the Texta - her work might be rendered in a naive style, but Arlene Textaqueen is a serious (and prolific) artist. She's completed an Australia Council residency in New York, collaborated with many artists and organisations both here and abroad, has an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in Brisbane scheduled for later this year, and is currently working with Rebel Films on a documentary about her TextaNudes series. A friend recently recounted to me one occasion when she was asked what type of artist she was... Her reply - 'a professional one'. Yeah!

ANYWAY I know I say this all the time but THIS interview is seriously one of the best yet. Mainly because Arlene Textaqueen (Texta for short) is just so goddamn funny. I mean, what other artist describes themselves as 'a super-hero who draws naked women and has social anxiety', aspires to guest-star on Sesame st, and dances around her studio to Jane Fonda Aerobics videos in between creative bursts? Read on for a glimpse into the crazy, creative world of Melbourne's very own superhero.

Arlene Textaqueen in superhero-mode

Tell me a little about your background - what did you study and what path led you to what you’re doing now?

I guess my artistic career begun entering colouring-in competitions in the weekend newspaper as a kid. Once I won a swing on a high trapeze, $100 and a coke bottle radio for a fauvist rendering of marine animals. Oh and then I went to university and did a Bachelor of Fine Arts in which I mostly made experimental film and photography, though I always drew in a sketchbook. It wasn’t until after uni without a darkroom or edit suite that I embraced drawing as my main practice. I would draw daily, a dozen pictures a day, of people I talked with or spied on whilst on the train. I began drawing with ball point pen, but someone gave me a multi-pack of kids textas and I was hooked.

I began drawing nudes following meeting someone at a party who saw me drawing portraits and asked me if I wanted create pics for a website that would be like a soft porn manga site but in a different style. I only really draw from life so I asked friends to pose but the site never happened, instead the ‘Textanude’ series began. I’ve now had over ten years experience drawing women un-dressed-up in their bedrooms, homes, gardens and lately in the natural landscape.

In addition to creating and exhibiting your own work, you’re involved in a variety of other projects… (Naked art camping etc?) what have been some of your most fun/notable projects and exhibitions?

My latest series is Naked Landscapes of Victoria in which I’ve drawn women posing in reference and re-interpretation of Australian history and culture in regional locations throughout the state such as Mary at the 12 Apostles, bunyip hunting in Bunyip State Forest or a feminist bushranger in Kelly country. On individual trips, a model and I travel in a campervan and create the picture over a few days on location.

Other than my portraits on paper I’ve made many things from them such as playing cards, collaborations to create animations such as for ARTV on SBS, zines, murals, postcards calendars, and once a surfboard.

An amazing experience I had last year was to tour across America, over 30 locations in around 30 days, on the Sister Spit tour organised by the writer Michelle Tea. Alongside 6 amazing queer woman writers reading their work, I showed slides of my drawings and told the stories of the people in the pictures. I got to see so much of America that I never would have visited and the response to my work and tales was incredible especially from other young queer woman was amazing.