Step inside a newly opened Creative Arts Collective in Timaru, Gallery 329

Gallery town’s newly 329 in opened Timaru’s Creative main street Arts Collective. is the The gallery, full of an eclectic mix of highquality arts and crafts, has enticed hundreds of people through its door since opening at the end of March. For local artists it is a wonderful opportunity to exhibit their work while gaining maximum financial reward when it sells. For Timaru’s main street it is another exciting business to draw folk into the CBD.

AS YOU ENTER THE GALLERY AT 329 STAFFORD STREET you are immediately struck by its vibrancy. Stark white walls offset a mosaic of paintings, screen prints and photographic art with sculpture, ceramics, jewellery and crafts filling the room. From Jane Powell’s still lifes, Sue Connolly’s postmodernist/ deconstructionist images and Tara Herd’s large politically charged paintings, there is something to capture the attention of all who enter. Particularly striking are the lifelike bird carvings of Ken Newbitt and Gary Lowther’s imposing wood and resin vessels. Depending on the day you may even find artists, including Peter Winnington and Karen Holbrook, at their easels, busily painting in the back of the gallery.

The architects of this exciting new venture are a group of good friends: Jock Anderson, Sue Matthews, Lynley Simmons and Peter Winnington. They are members of the Tuesday Tipplers group, friends that lunch together and enjoy a drink or two every Tuesday. At one such lunch, Jock proposed the idea of starting a not-for-profit art collective, inspired after a 2019 trip to his Scottish homeland. The idea followed a visit to the Scottish Design Exchange in Edinburgh with his now fiancé Elizabeth Robertson, a fabric designer and Shetland

Fair Isle Knitter who is also the gallery’s international guest member. Encouraged by Elizabeth, Jock felt certain such a concept would translate well to Timaru.

The friends tossed the idea around and committed to pursuing it. Like the Scottish Design Exchange, Gallery 329 is based on a not-for-profit business model where the artists pay a small monthly rental that covers all the gallery’s running expenses. In return, they receive all their sale proceeds. This no-commission policy enables the artists to maximise their income while being able to offer their art at competitive prices. It also enables artists to exhibit in a retail space that they could not individually afford, draws shoppers into the CBD, and gives them the opportunity to invest in locally made, quality arts and crafts.

Much like the art, the management team are a diverse mix. In a previous life Jock was an award-winning journalist, Sue a pathologist, Lynley a public service manager and Peter a policeman. It is art and friendship that bring them together. Sue, Peter and Lynley are all artists who exhibit in the gallery. Jock is quick to clarify he is not an artist, but someone who appreciates art and wishes to support the art community. All are involved in the South Canterbury Art Society. It is their mutual belief in the equitable business model of the gallery

that has driven them to invest their own money and a lot of time and effort into creating the bright and inviting space. Their hours are voluntary, and their reward the fun of working together, and positive social interaction with customers and artists.

Jock is impressed by the depth and range of talent in Timaru and South Canterbury. The team has shoulder-tapped 25 local artists to exhibit in the gallery and there is already a waiting list of eager artists to join the collective. Artists are encouraged to regularly rotate their work so there is always something fresh and new on offer. While they are encouraged to volunteer in the gallery there is flexibility around this, dependent on the artists’ individual circumstances. Sue comments artists are beginning to make connections with one another, offering support and creating collaborative opportunities. The opportunity that the gallery gives first-time exhibitors is what particularly excites Peter.

As the team unravels the gallery’s story, they acknowledge those in Timaru’s business community supporting their endeavour, from a generous landlord to the law firm covering advertising costs, and the staff at the Aigantighe Art Gallery who have offered technical advice. The team is excited about the gallery and the synergy with their neighbours, Timaru Booksellers and The Grindhouse Cafe. Sue points out, ‘It’s a nice little cultural hub starting up this end of town which I think is worth encouraging.’

With such a positive start to their venture the management team already have eyes to the future. They are keen to see artists run workshops from the gallery, giving opportunity for those in the community to create some art of their own.

Artists are encouraged to regularly rotate their work so there is always something fresh and new on offer.

ABOVE Gallery 329 management team members from left to right: Sue Matthews, Jock Anderson (Director) and Lynley Simmons. Not pictured, Peter Winnington.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP An eclectic mix of quality paintings, sculptures and crafts are sold in the gallery; management team member and artist, Sue Matthews stands beside some of her work. Sue has found fresh inspiration and motivation to paint since she has started exhibiting in the gallery; while all the other artwork is created in South Canterbury, these exquisite Fair Isle knitted teddies are from Shetland and are the work of Elizabeth Robertson. If it hadn’t been for Covid, Elizabeth and Jock would have been married by now and Elizabeth would be working from South Canterbury; gallery member and artist Allan Horwell stands in front of his work. Modelled on the Scottish Design Exchange in Edinburgh, Gallery 329 allows artists to pay a monthly rental for the opportunity to exhibit their work with all sale proceeds going to the artist.