A recent Sydney Morning Herald article written by Catherine Armitage titled "Retail Revolution on Oxford Street" reveals how the local Council has stepped into the fray of empty shops and taken up leasing them for as little as $100 a week to artists. (smh.domain.com.au)
Catherine Armitage writes: A buzz has stirred the lower reaches of Oxford Street from Hyde Park to Taylor Square since the council late last year offered 18 former offices and shops to ''creative and cultural tenants'' at a fraction of normal rents.
The story explains that Sam Mitchell-Fin and Juliet Rosser have showcased the artworks, jewellery and homewares of no fewer than 84 emerging artists and designers at prices from $5 to $20,000.
Juliet Rosser noted they had been through art school and they knew there was a lot of talent that was never seen and a lot of artists have work hidden away in their bedrooms and believed they will come should a public space be available.
This is the quote of quotes from Ms Rossner that makes this story come alive:
''It is by no means making us any money, but it is about people being able to buy artworks more accessibly and having beautiful accessible pieces rather than buying things from Ikea.''
Original art
There is nothing quite like having an original art piece in your wall, whether that be in your home or office.
In my many years as an artist, those who have my art work have been delighted that they have an original art work for their place, and this is what has been the over arching response to this Oxford Street project, in giving consumers the opportunity of having an original art work.
For three years (2003-2005) I was the Artist in Residence at the Basil Sellers Art Centre in Moruya on the south coast of New South Wales, which has a very artistic community. One of the ministry projects I established with the support of Mr Basil Sellers AM was the art centre and the following year the Basil Sellers $10,000 At Prize was established which has increased to $15,000. The bi-annual 2012 prize was held last month. (au.christiantoday.com)
In those years as the Artist in Residence, the overwhelming desire of those who visited was that of having an original art work. We saw numerous exhibitions and perhaps the two that did the best was art from Antarctica and a Braidwood artist. We also held a well patronised sculpture exhibition from a very well known Sculpturer along with a monthly "cheese and wine" evening for local artists.
Intriguing nature of original art
There appears to be at least three categories associated by those desiring 'original art".
The first are family, friends and relatives of the artist who are simple delighted to host on their walls an original art work by an artist whom they know so well and are inevitably very proud of.
The second are those who simply adore original art and will purchase it, almost regardless of the price, to sense its originality and enjoy its artistic texture and be part of the heavenly creative process that produced such a remarkable piece. Its beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
The third are the art investors who purchase both well known artists' works and those up and coming artists' works of whom they have a sense will gain in value significantly over the years. Some of these art work go on display, others are placed in secure storage where their value increases as the artist becomes more well known.
Whatever the category, original art is something special. Go into any home, and you'll immediately know the difference between those with original art on their walls and those who have "mass produced" prints.
It's not unlike visiting a home where the well thumbed bible is on the desk or the bedside draw set, as opposed to the prized family Bible is ornamentally displayed on the mantle piece.
Dr Mark Tronson - a 4 min video
Chairman – Well-Being Australia
Baptist Minister 45 years
- 1984 - Australian cricket team chaplain 17 years (Ret)
- 2001 - Life After Cricket (18 years Ret)
- 2009 - Olympic Ministry Medal – presented by Carl Lewis
- 2019 - The Gutenberg - (ARPA Christian Media premier award)
Gutenberg video - 2min 14sec
Married to Delma for 45 years with 4 children and 6 grand children
