Space to embrace local artists

THE unveiling of a new art show at Bridge Mall has also signalled the launch of a new multipurpose gallery space in the region.

Visual artist Linda Franklin opened the doors to Gallery 10 last weekend with an exhibition displaying her work as well as four local artists.

Functioning as an exhibition, retail, workshop, and therapy space for all things arts, Franklin said the launch was met with a warm response.

“We opened to about 80 people and they were an incredibly positive, supportive, enthused crowd,” she said.

“Ballarat is an incredible goldmine of extraordinary practitioners, and they don’t have many places to showcase their work. That’s part of the aim behind opening this.”

Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison, whose family previously operated the venue as a pharmacy, was guest speaker for the launch.

The gallery opened with the launch of the BRIDGE MALLed exhibition, which showcases nearly 30 prints, paintings, and sculptures.

As well as Franklin, creatives Peter Sparkman, Steve Sedgwick, Vikki Nash, and Geoff Bonney also feature in the show.

Franklin said the selection of artists and works fed into another key aim of the gallery.

“There’s a great treasure trove of works from Ballarat artists that haven’t been seen yet,” she said.

“That was part of my motivation for opening, knowing there’s a great pool of artists who I know are hiding two-and-a-half exhibitions under their beds or in their cupboards.

“These works on show are older works but they haven’t been seen by the public. They’re all peers who trained at the same time at the Ballarat Arts Academy in the 1980s.”

Franklin shares the Gallery 10 venue, named after its 10 Bridge Mall address, with the Koshka Art Fuelled Fashion label run by Kat Pengelly.

Another group exhibition, themed around the Christmas season, is set to be displayed this month alongside the BRIDGE MALLed show, which will remain on display until the holidays.