Port Stephens Artisan Collective has found a new home.
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Following months of searching, the group of Port artists acquired a new space to showcase their work this month and are now up and running at d’Albora Marina, Nelson Bay.
The doors to the new exhibition space opened on December 16, almost three months to the day the group had to vacate their original shop in Nelson Bay’s CBD as it was then set to be torn down.
The Port Stephens Council-owned building in Magnus Street came down a week after the collective moved out. You can watch the demolition process here.
Since then the collective has been on the hunt for a new exhibition space.
Artist and collective member Janet Mackintosh said the group was happy they had found a new space in time for summer holiday period.
“This is the busiest months in the Bay for tourists and locals alike,” Mrs Mackintosh said.
“It will be a fantastic opportunity to highlight our local talent.”
The artisan collective was initially established to give Port artists a space to showcase their work.
The idea was born out of a program, called Smart Arts, ran by the council in 2016.
In addition to removing artists from their home studios and garages and injecting them into the community, the collective’s aim was to “activate old and unused space” and encourage foot traffic back into the Bay CBD.
The group had transformed the Magnus Street space from a “dark, dreary and empty” shop into “light and vibrant” gallery.
The artists showed and sold their work in the space, and also manned the store during operating hours. They were in Magnus Street for 12 months.
Even when homeless the group worked on brightening up empty spaces in the Bay CBD.
They found an owner of an empty shop being advertised for lease in the CBD who was willing to let the group “dress up” the window with art.
“We went through the process with him, pros and cons, no work on his part, just making the window pretty, mindful that prospective renters needed to be able to see it was for lease and to see inside the shop,” Mrs Mackintosh said.
With help from Maret Larnach Styling, the group dressed the shop window located in Magnus Street with weaving, mosaic, oils, paintings, ceramics, mixed media and photography items.
“We are still hopeful of more windows as more business owners and real estates see how lovely they look dressed up,” Mrs Mackintosh said.
A group of 10 artists are now showing their work in the new space at the marina.
Works on display include weaving, macrame, jewellery, photography, glass, skin food, resin work, oils, acrylics and mosaics.
The space will be open between Thursday and Monday, 10am to 5pm until the end of March.
It also be open the nights that the Sacred Tree Markets will be running in Nelson Bay in January.
Follow Artisan Collective Port Stephens on Facebook or on instagram: @artisancollective_ps.
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
