Category: starting out

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we’re almost there!

Sorry that it has been a while between updates.  There hasn’t been too much report until now.

The gallery is now fully painted.  The sign writing has been ordered and the sound system is in.  There is still a bit of cleaning to do and a couple of items of furniture to purchase; but we’re almost there!

After incessantly emailing and calling the council planning department during the past three days, I found out today that there were no objections to my application – hooray!

Unfortunately, they haven’t been clear with what the process looks like from here.  All they have said is that they will aim to get to it by the end of next week.  I’m not sure what ‘it’ is but hope that it is the issuing of the permit.

Fingers crossed, we’re still on track to open our doors in mid-May… most probably Wednesday the 18th.

Until then, we have at least two more artists to introduce you to; in addition to Marie-Lise Laviolette and Karin Zeller.

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we’re all about exhibiting aspiring and ’emerging’ artists

Samuel Webster (Mood of Monk) shared this article with me and I thought I would share it with you.   Artinfo has asked the experts, “What does “emerging” really mean in the art world?”

Please click here to read their responses.

As you know, one hundredth gallery is devoted to the exhibition of artwork by aspiring and emerging artists and aims to be a part of the process that enables creative people to exhibit their work to the public (especially those who are starting out).  If this sounds like you, please get in touch.

Until then, I hope you have a wonderful long long weekend.

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we’re getting closer

We hit another major milestone on Saturday.  We finally finished the construction phase of the gallery fitout!

The walls are up and rendered (thanks to www.casafico.com); the studio/storeroom is finished; the hanging rails are up; and the lighting is fully installed.  It has been a very long road to get here, but we’re done.  And who would have thought that the hardest part of the job would be hanging the hanging rails?  They had to go into solid concrete, and that meant a hammer drill and lots of persistence.

There are still six things to do to get the gallery ready for opening.

  1. Final coat of paint
  2. Install a sound system
  3. Install a projector
  4. Buy some furniture
  5. Get the sign writing done
  6. Clean, clean, clean

These are all minor things that I hope to have completed within the next couple of weeks.

The advertising process for the planning permit ends this coming Thursday.  So it will still be a couple of weeks before that comes through, provided there haven’t been any insurmountable objections!

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we’re in beat magazine

The very lovely Lou Pardi (http://www.loupardi.com/ and http://pardipardi.wordpress.com/) recently wrote the following article for Beat Magazine.  Thank you Lou!

Growing Together

New Melbourne Gallery Gives Aspiring & Emerging Artists A Start

It was never going to be an easy journey, when Charles Hardman decided to resign from his role in General Management for an ASX 200 company to pursue his passion for the arts and open a gallery. Believing that “everyone should have the opportunity to pursue their artistic dreams”, Hardman knows firsthand how tough it can be for those looking to get started in the industry.

“When I was at school, I thought I’d like to be an artist when I graduated” says Hardman “I quickly discovered however, that the art world is very chicken-and-egg. No one wants to exhibit you unless you’ve already exhibited – and sold – elsewhere”.

Hardman’s new space, one hundredth gallery aims to provide a space for both emerging and aspiring artists. The concept allows them to rent wall space, from as little as 1.5m, to exhibit their art (in whatever form it may be) and spend time in the gallery, hearing the response from the public.

Whilst originally slated to open in February 2011, like its future exhibitors, one hundredth gallery has run into a few hurdles getting up and running. Until the new launch date in May 2011 rolls around, Hardman has decided to take matters into his own hands and offer his support to all interested creative types for free.

On now until 30 April 2011, Hardman is running free online exhibitions via the gallery’s website – www.100thgallery.com. No commissions on sales, no queues, no fees and no opening hours.

Whether you’re a creative type – photographer, artist, sculptor, illustrator, fashion designer, and so forth and you’d like to get your work out there, or simply an admiring fan of the arts, now’s the time to get one hundredth gallery on your radar.

– Lou Pardi

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another couple of steps

Maybe I was in corporate for too long, or maybe I just like being thorough.  Or perhaps I’m a little over-excited as we get closer to opening the gallery.  Either way, I have been conducting more rigorous UAT (that’s User Acceptance Testing) of the hanging system and of the paintings that will hang from them.

Results thus far are very positive.

All works in these photos are my own, and will only adorn the gallery hanging rails if there is spare space; or if I get desperate for an income.

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let the advertising begin!

Unfortunately, I am not referring to any fun type of advertising.  The advertising I elude to is the advertising of my application to the council to change the use of 49 Porter Street, Prahran from an office space to a gallery space.

After 80 days, the council have finally printed this fluorescent yellow sign for me to stick in my window to let my neighbours and nearby residents know about my cunning mission to help exhibit aspiring and emerging artists. 

I’m pretty sure I could have put the sign together in less than 80 days.  In a pointillist style with a 0.01mm fineliner.  Whilst playing the piano.  With my hands tied behind my back.  Standing on my head.  In the dark. 

The fluorescent yellow sign needs to be up for at least 14 days.  The council have also sent letters to 110 of my neighbours and nearby residents to let them know of my application and their right to object… all at a direct cost (to me) of $600 (+ the original application fee of $502).  The purpose of this exercise?  To give my neighbours and nearby residents the opportunity to object to my dastardly plan. 

Seriously though, this is all a part of the process and the most important thing for us to remember is that we are on our way!

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and the window winner is…

The tribe has spoken, and after a total of 20 votes there was a tie between window option 2 (silver on black + silver) and window option 5 (silver on black + black).

Rather than flip a coin to decide to between the two options, I decided on a more considered approach.  Which window would be look best during both day and night?  I think option 2’s silver writing on a dark background would work better than option 5’s black writing on a dark background.

And so we have a winner… window option 2!  Thank you for your votes!

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another small step

Okay, I’ll admit that I am starting to get excited by the smallest things when it comes to the gallery.  During the past weekend, we made another small step towards completion.

With four walls now fully prepared, we installed the hanging rails.  I subsequently got carried away and then hung three pictures.  After all, I needed to check that they worked!

The walls, hanging rails, and lighting have all come together just I had imagined, and the gallery is now really starting to take shape.

I heard from the council yesterday and they have said (again) that advertising (of my permit) should start soon, which means we’re about 6 weeks away from opening.  Happy days!

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signage – i need your help!

Whilst my planning application is still caught up in the webbiest web of the reddest of red tape, I am still progressing with getting the gallery ready for its grand opening.

A part of this, I would really like to finalise the sign writing by the end of this week. I’m planning on keeping it very simple so as to not obstruct any of the work that will be hanging in the window. Whilst the font is also not yet decided, it will also be simple and easy to read.

I need your help with colours. Here are 5 examples that I mocked up using MS Paint. The text is the same in each photo; the only difference is the colour scheme. You can click on an image to make it larger. Which do you like best? Please help by voting below!

Voting is now closed.

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