Artists open up shared studio space

THE former masonic building on Camp Street now home to half-a-dozen artists and makers will be opened to the public this weekend.

Throughout Saturday and Sunday, The Lost Ones shared studio space will be accessible to wander through from 10am to 4pm.

Pauline O’Shannessy-Dowling is one of the five resident artists, and said she expects many visitors after the amount of people who wandered in last weekend.

“We had about 100 people both days which was great,” she said.

“People naturally filtered over here from Lydiard Street. Because people are in that slowed-down festival mode, they’re really open to stop and chat which is exactly what we want.

“We’ve been wanting to make this a regular occurrence about 12 months ago since the studio’s been fully inhabited.”

Previously a large open gallery, The Lost Ones was converted into a shared studio space in 2020.

As well as O’Shannessy-Dowling, The Lost Ones is also home to Flash and Goldie, Rachel Grose Jewellery, and Alex Bayleaf.

Kirrily Urquhart makes digital collages and textile works through under Kokoro Expressions, and said having people coming in to see the creatives at their craft is a satisfying part of having a shared space.

“I love meeting people, getting feedback, and chatting to them about my work and their experiences,” she said.

“For example, I had some work up on the screen I was doing and someone recognised the lacework. It’s swapping stories, and I’m always looking for new places to photograph.

“I was working out of my home studio before this, and I really love feeling apart of the art scene in this area and having a more easily-accessible space.”