\u201c…I had always wanted to do my own\u00a0thing. I can\u2019t believe I didn\u2019t pull the trigger earlier. ..it is\u00a0an awesome life to be living \u2013 to make your own decisions, paving your own way…\u201d Gareth Williams<\/strong><\/p>\n The search for that perfect space started with small shopfronts as purely a studio space but then its current site caught the eye and given its rapid expansion, it has proved a fortuitous decision. With a more spacious site secured, Gareth and Tabitha\u2019s vision for a bricks-and-mortar\u00a0project soon evolved from purely a space for Tabitha to create her own pieces<\/p>\n A visit to an Artisan Market at the Cave Gardens also inspired the couple, who saw first hand just how much artistic and creative talent was right on their new doorstep. \u201cWe thought let\u2019s not just create, let\u2019s starting exhibiting work,\u201d Gareth said. \u201cLet\u2019s open up the space to local talent not just in Mount Gambier but in the region. Let\u2019s give everyone a platform to exhibit their work and get their creations out there in the world.\u201d Recruiting that local talent started with a social media campaign.<\/p>\n We made a lot of connections with artists and local makers and we just kept getting approached by more people,\u201d Gareth said. \u201cSecuring this new space enables us to now provide three gallery spaces for artists to exhibit their work, and we have also created six dedicated studio spaces for artists to hire. It is our hope to establish a creative community space for artists to gather, share and collaborate.\u201d<\/p>\n Sixty per cent of the gift shop items are locally produced and the gallery space is dominated by Limestone Coast artists, with Barossa Valley artist John Lean the only exhibitor from outside the Limestone Coast.<\/p>\n The gallery is open seven days a week and is currently exhibiting artwork by 12 artists \u2013 showcasing a variety of mediums \u2013 from the large oil paintings created by John Lean to mixed media masterpieces by Millicent artit, Jane McCumstie, acrylic still life paintings by local artist Della Gogall and photography by Ockert le Roux.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a really big focus on pushing local talent, artists and makers, and giving the community the chance to buy local work,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c…we want to smash all that together and come up with some really cool little events…\u201d Gareth Williams<\/strong><\/p>\n Gareth said. \u201cIt\u2019s about making art accessible and getting it out there so the community can engage with it.\u201d\u00a0Plans for 2023 include establishing artist-in-residence opportunities.<\/p>\n \u201cTo break down the barriers between what you see on the wall and the process that goes into\u00a0the creation of that work,\u201d Gareth said. \u201cSometimes it takes months and months and people will also be able to see how artists develop their skills.\u201d<\/p>\n And while Little Blue Wren is all about visual arts at this early stage of its development, Gareth\u2019s passion is music and he is looking to make the space a cultural hub, including musical performances,<\/p>\n We want to smash all that together and come up with some really cool little events,\u201d he said. Little Blue Wren has also partnered with local disability creative art program Dream to Create and showcases a different artist from their program on their much-loved artist easel in the gallery on a rotating basis.<\/p>\n At Little Blue Wren we believe that the arts have the capacity to brings us all together; it changes us and changes our communities. Therefore, we want the arts, and our space to be accessible to everyone,\u201d Gareth said. \u201cWe are committed to creating a vibrant arts collective hub at the Wren and can\u2019t wait to share our space with the community.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c…let\u2019s open up the space to local talent not just in Mount Gambier but in the region… let\u2019s give everyone a platform to exhibit their work and get their creations out there in the world. \u201d Gareth Williams<\/strong><\/p>\n Originally from the UK, Gareth said the move from the suburbs of Adelaide to a reginal centre was always on the cards.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a country boy at heart,\u201d he said. \u201cWe just decided now was the time to get out of the \u2018burbs and get away from the city. We found this awesome house in Mount Gambier and the timing was just right \u2013 everything lined up.<\/p>\n this place. You are near the coast, the river, hills, mountains and even a volcano. Geographically it ticks all the boxes and it is a really nice place to raise kids.\u201d<\/p>\n Tabitha had previously run a small gallery in the Barossa,while Gareth brings 25 years of manufacturing experience on the factory floor to the table.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a whole new journey for me,\u201d Gareth said. \u201cI was used to getting flogged on the floor for someone else but I had always wanted to do my own thing. I can\u2019t believe I didn\u2019t pull the trigger earlier. It is an awesome life to be living \u2013 to make your own decisions, paving your own way.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Blue Wren is open seven days a week and information about their workshops can be found on their website: www. littlebluewrengifts.com<\/p>\n For information about exhibiting in the Little Blue Wren Gallery or hiring artist studios, please contact Little Blue Wren Gifts & Art.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" New gallery & gift shop unveils new exhibition space for Limestone Coast artists It was only two months ago that Little Blue Wren Gift and Art\u2019s gallery and gift shop opened its\u00a0doors yet last Thursday night, the Little Blue Wren team unveiled\u00a0a new exhibition space as the region\u2019s newest art space looks to showcase […]<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2023\/11\/1-3.jpg\")
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