Art Galleries are sprouting up throughout the Northern Beaches, but none quite as small as the one about to open on Saturday, 11 March, at Shop 40A, 36-42 Sydney Road, Manly.
For the past 18 months, Northern Beaches local Lee Smith, 60, has been a part of the local market scene selling art on swimwear from herself and local and international artists under her own label, Art Needs A Heart To Be Art.
Beaches resident Lee Smith’s Art Needs A Heart To Be Art gallery opens in Manly on March 11.
Lee says her dream has always been to have her own art gallery, so when Shop 40A became available she jumped at the opportunity, and after putting out ‘Expressions of Interest’ via social media, Lee was inundated with artists and photographers wanting to exhibit their work.
“The response was overwhelming,” she says. “The standard is high. “The first artist to start the ball rolling is Damien March who recently had an international exhibition in Canon Drive, Beverly Hills.
“I’m hoping artists and photographers make this their space, and every two to three weeks there will be a new artist so the gallery will be a breath of fresh air in the pedestrian part of Sydney Road.”
As well as continuing to sell her Australian-made art on swimwear, bucket hats and sand-resistant towels, she will also be showcasing namji dolls, beaded flowers from Africanologie in Mosman, Australian handmade aprons by My Favourite Apron Company and children’s swimwear made out of recycled plastic by Little Fishy Eco Swimwear.
Although Art Needs A Heart To Be Art will only be open Saturday and Sunday 10.00am – 4.00pm or by appointment, the art will be visible 24/7 for foot traffic to enjoy the constant changing landscape.
Follow this new gallery on Instagram art_needs_a_heart. If you’re interested in having an exhibition, send Lee a DM.