{ Gallery 34 }

Two Friday's ago the doors were flung open to my friend (and Monty's mum) Liv Lawson's new adventure: Gallery 34 was open for business. The opening night was an absolute roaring success, about 120+ people when we were hoping for about 50-60! Great for business but pity you couldn't move or see the beautiful paintings!

 

The first exhibiting artist is Leone Gabrielle, a local artist from the Highlands who paints beautiful oil on canvas inspired by her yearly far north Queensland and Indonesian travels. Fluttering birds, vivid greens and dreamy blues dominate with a boldness that is somehow both very ethereal and feminine as well as spirited and dramatic. Liv plans to exhibit local artists for solo exhibitions, each one lasting 4-6 weeks. The local art scene in this area around Yea, Mansfield and up to Benalla has really come along in the past 5 years. A gallery in Yea is such an exciting venture for the arts in the Murrindindi Shire, a credit to Liv's belief in rural business and culture.

The Yea Business and Tourism Association has been trying to promote the area as a destination in itself, not a pit stop on your way to a final destination. Most of the traffic through Yea, in fact I would say almost all of it, is headed for Mt Buller. Businesses such as Gallery 34 are branding Yea as a new tourist hotspot, more of a Daylesford or Beechworth rather than a glorified toilet stop! 

 

The gallery itself was once the town bank, a beautiful old building with double brick (nice and warm in winter and cool in summer) with grand arched windows which let the natural light flood in. Liv went about a total re-vamp of the building - polishing the original floorboards, painting throughout, ripping out some walls and putting up others to create more wall space for artwork. The old bank vault has been transformed into a kids playroom! 

 

What grabs you the most is the details that have gone into the styling of the space - something which I really notice and appreciate in cafes, galleries and retail spaces. The counter tops were custom made and are a polished concrete, giving a wonderful industrial feel. The lighting fixtures above the main counter were sourced by Liv after she went on a hunt for a recycled alternative - they are actually old pianola scrolls with indentations, grooves and lyrics still visible. Even going to the toilets is a pleasure with walls adorned with a big sprawling tree featuring vintage wallpaper remnant leaves and a wall decal I like to think as the old banker watching over us all...

 

Coffee is the order of the day - with Jasper free trade and organic coffee (and milk!) being served. The coffee Liv has chosen to use is from Peru and is produced by women, who benefit from the free trade with new facilities for their villages and business training. A range of locally made cakes, muffins and biscuits are also on offer. The solid cafe furniture was handmade from recycled timber by Liv's clever brother, with a big communal farmhouse style table with bench seats. 

Gorgeous cards are also available, all from recycled papers and most using non-toxic, vegetable based inks and made in Melbourne. (I personally am a sucker for a good card...) JMP silver jewellery features in the gallery, with custom made stamped discs popular to adorn bracelets or necklaces with children's names or birthdates or simple words of love. 

Getting this project off the ground was a huge undertaking which has only come to its fruition through Liv's hard work, determination and passion to create a beautiful space in her town. Well done Liv - I'm sure Tom and your boys are so proud of what you have been able to achieve and create from scratch to make it truly your own. 

Gallery 34 is at 34 High Street, Yea and is open the following hours:

Thursdays - 9 to 4

Fridays - 9 to 4

Saturdays - 9 to 4

Sundays - 10 to 4 (pssst...if you're lucky I might be working on a Sunday and make you a coffee!)

Website is still under construction but should be up and running this week: www.gallery34.com.au


Photography by Emma Durkin Photographics