Commerce and Creativity Partner Up at Gallery

Local artists and local businesses have come together at the Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery in an innovative showcase of 50 new artworks sponsored entirely by the Coffs Coast business community.

‘New Year: New Work’, which is opening on Saturday, February 2, features 50 brand new works which were each sponsored by 50 local businesses – an idea brought to fruition through the hard work and support of the Friends of the Gallery.

“Each artist was given a 50cm by 50cm square piece of plywood and free rein to create a new piece. I believe visitors will be delighted by the talent and ingenuity on show. The local artists involved work in many mediums and are at various stages of their careers, some are emerging while others have national reputations,” said Jo Besley, the Gallery’s Curator. “In its scale and scope, the exhibition underlines just how important local artists and creatives are to the economy and social landscape of the Coffs Coast community – which is timely as we move forward with our new Cultural and Civic Space.”

With over 50 businesses taking part, the new exhibition will raise significant funds for the Friends of the Gallery so they can continue to support the acquisition of new works or assist with exhibitions and events such as ‘STILL: National Still Life Award’, coming up later in 2019.

(Pictured above is President of the Friends of the Gallery Heather McKinnon being interviewed by Dennis Driver of NBN Television).

The featured artists are Leonard Aitken, Jan Allsop, Nanette Backhouse, Matthew Begg, Stefan Bruggisser, Sara Bowen, Cher Breeze, Danielle Burford, Terri Butterworth, Amber Carbury, Jo Elliott, Ben Fayle, Sheryl Fisher, Rob Garrett, Guy Gilmour, Averil Harris, Ted Hillyer, Adrienne Hmelnitsky, Nicholas Kachel, Jeanette Keough, Michael Langley, Violetta Lanza, Penelope Lawry, Georgie Luckock, Brentyn Lugnan, Josh Mackenzie, Lynne Mak, Gloria Malone, Raymond Mather, John Mawhinney, Tonya McIver, Bim Morton, Laurie Mossuto, Sarah Mufford, Julie Nash, Jenny Parkin, Sandra Pitkin, Will Price, Yvonne Quadros, Isabel Rickets, Ray Rixon, Bronwyn Rodden, Jeramie Scahill, Tyrone Sheather, Jeremy Sheehan, Alanna Shorter, Jane Sturrock Nash, John Thiering, John Van Der Kolk, Peter Wade, Nick Warfield, Alison Williams, JP Willis, and Christine Wilson.

At the same time, a separate experimental installation, ‘Work in Process’ will also be on show. In this, a painter, a photographer and an arts therapist – co.lab.arts – have come together to work collaboratively on a project. The resulting exhibition includes photographs, working journals, paintings and sculptures created by the three Bellingen artists Ruth Ackary, Jay Black and Karlee Rawkins.

New Year New Work will be on show until 2 March 2019.