A Queenstown art gallery owner is responding to demand and aiming to capitalise on peak tourism trade by opening a second gallery on Beach St for the summer season.
Artbay Gallery, an independent dealership, consultancy and tour guide business based in Mountaineer, had a soft opening in the Beach St premises yesterday afternoon.
Artbay owner Pauline Bianchi said yesterday she spotted the vacant premises and took the lease to take advantage of the tourist trade during the summer. The expected influx of people to Wakatipu for the Michael Hill New Zealand Open beginning next week was a factor in her decision, Mrs Bianchi said.
"Mountaineer will always be our flagship gallery. This is something we've taken on temporarily, to see what difference it makes, being in a prime location.
"Business is going exceptionally well. It's been a good season for us.
"Most of the sales in the last month have gone overseas - paintings to Perth, sculptures to Sydney and New Caledonia and crates of artwork shipped to all over America.''
Mrs Bianchi said art consultancy had always been the core of her business. Projects including the fit-out of hotels and the refurbishments of holiday homes kept Artbay busy, at a time when some galleries around the country were experiencing a drop-off in custom because
of the recession.
Mrs Bianchi said she had noticed some potential buyers were taking more time to consider purchasing pieces, instead of buying on impulse, but they were not trying to bargain. Works by emerging artists were seen as more affordable and as investments, she said.
Diversification was also a factor in Artbay's business growth.
"We'll be continuing the versatility of the gallery, including the art talks, art classes and the artists in residence.
"We're organising a series of art events, starting with an exclusive luncheon at Amisfield Winery for the exhibition opening and talk by Mary Anne Dickey in early March.''
The gallery was also hosting talks for art groups from Invercargill, Gore and Queenstown, she said.
Mrs Bianchi said it had been a race against time to prepare the Beach St gallery for opening, and she and her three staff members had fitted out the space.
Works by many of the artists exhibiting at Artbay in Mountaineer will feature among the 200 pieces destined for the Beach St gallery. They include sculptures by Arrowtown artist Mark Hill and mixed-media abstracts with resin by Matakana artist Virginia Leonard.
The Beach St gallery will also feature two Queenstown artists working in residence, who will be available to engage with visitors.
Rachael Errington will continue her tree series tomorrow, Friday and Saturday, from noon to 9pm.
From next week Emma Butler will work on her series of whimsical acrylic on canvas paintings, featuring the character Ruby.
Thursday, 21 January 2010
