Ray Saunderson was an artist who felt his lifestyle, the time spent alone, was turning him into a hermit. After walking away from his banking career his friend, Mark Smyth, was seeking a new challenge. Ray suggested they join forces and start a gallery. For Mark this seemed like a dream come true.
And so it began …
After a long search they found the perfect building and, when extensive cleaning and renovations were complete, the once-neglected interior became an airy, light-filled oasis. The Wellington Gallery was born.
For a comparably new gallery, the combination of the bushfires and Covid presented unexpected challenges that both Ray and Mark not only met but exceeded.
The gallery has hosted seven shows since reopening, including the fundraising weekend “Out of the Ashes”, for South Coast artists affected by the fires.
The almost $40,000 made in sales that weekend went directly back to the artists, boosting their income as well as hope for the future.
The Wellington Gallery doors were kept open when allowed, entry by appointment was offered when there was no other option, and artist Brendan Kelly had his first show with this gallery in July this year.
Kelly is showing at the gallery again (November 14 – December 5, Trouble in the Order) this time sharing the space with Paul Trefry (November 21– December 30, Flesh for Thought).
For me, showing these two artists together enhances the impact of their work. I see them both in their own way as (accidental) artists who have mastered their medium (Kelly painting, and Trefry sculpture) on their own terms. Both are free to use their talents without fear or favour. Both highlight the issues that are important to them and to our increasingly fractured, unequal world.
Both have the privilege of showing their work at the Wellington Gallery. This is a perfect mix of bold original art and a space built on maverick flair.
Don’t miss these shows.
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24-30 Wellington St Waterloo, 2017
www.thewellingtongallery.com
