Despite facing tough times and closing her gallery, Jo Parsons isn’t putting away her paintbrushes. Photo: Supplied.
A Braidwood gallery will close its doors next month due to “tricky times” in the retail sector.
Gallery 103 creative director Jo Parsons said the difficult decision was driven by cost-of-living pressures.
“I’m pretty sad about it, but I also feel a bit relieved,” she said.
“At the end of the day, I just could not financially make it work. I would get to the end of a 30- to 40-hour week … and after paying the rent, I’d [think], ‘Oh, well, I can’t feed my child on that.'”
At Gallery 103, Jo sold her own artwork and prints, which are framed or printed on items such as aprons, cushions, umbrellas and drink bottles.
It also hosted artwork from around 50 local artists.
“On the whole, it was very inclusive. I had a 12-year-old boy’s postcards, I’ve got my little girl’s bookmarks, pottery and printmaking.
“I had the beautiful work of Suzanne Bellamy, who unfortunately we lost a few years ago. I had an exhibition of her final estate work.”
Unlike other galleries, people could stop in and browse the walls for a piece to take home.
“Being a retail art space [means] you can take the work off the walls in a retail fashion, as opposed to [people] waiting for an exhibition to finish and then working out a way to come back and pick it up,” Jo said.
“I think that it’s been a very good business model, but it’s just tricky times.”
Gallery 103 drew in locals and visitors stopping by the Southern Tablelands town, including those travelling from places such as Sydney and Canberra.
Jo said the gallery offered a space for regional creatives to come together for something special.
“On the whole, people love the gallery, they love the space. They come in and they’re quietly surprised how beautiful the work that a little gallery in Braidwood would have.”
Gallery 103 showcased art and products from up to 50 regional artists. Photo: Supplied.
She said the retail industry was hurting, and she planned to refocus on wholesale distribution and product development of her art.
“My little gallery was very well placed, and I did get a lot of walk-in traffic,” she said.
“But I think [it was just] the financial pressures of modern living. The turnover wasn’t there.
“I think other galleries are probably in a similar position to me. They’re really finding it hard too – certainly the regional ones.”
Jo encourages people to support artists and other creatives in their communities, even when it’s tough.
“Certainly from my experience, the artists that I’ve represented are incredibly passionate about what they do,” she said.
“It brings them joy, but they want to share that joy with other people … Let’s not lose sight of local quality and supporting local talent.
“It’s like losing the local butcher or greengrocer – we’ve got to look after what’s local.”
Artwork will be discounted until the gallery closes early June, meaning there is time for people to drop in.
“Ideally, I’d love to move on most of the original works – not only of my own, but of my artists – so that everyone’s going out on a good note,” Jo said.
Gallery 103 is located at 110 Wallace Street in Braidwood. It is open 10 am to 4 pm (Thursday to Monday). All artwork will be for sale until 9 June. Keep up with Jo via her website.
