Dear 2024....
Dear 2024,
You certainly have been one for the record books. It seems like it was only yesterday that we were sitting down to plan our movements for you, and yet, here we are in December, reflecting on all that has gone. You certainly have flown by, perhaps owing, in no small part, to the activities we packed in. So let's reflect together on some of the good (and not so good) times of the past 12 months.
January as is of the case in retail, particularly in Toowoomba, began slowly, with many locals away on holidays for the duration. However, as schools return, so too do the buyers, with many using a trip to the city as the perfect excuse to pop in and see what's new. This is quite a sensible approach as we use the quiet time to refresh the gallery in preparation for what is to come so they will certainly be met with something fresh and new.
February was filled with a plethora of summer sales. It seems that this is the perfect time to look at what might be missing from walls or collections, once all the craziness of new year and school starting has died down. It also appears to be the ideal time to book our Art Advisory Service, where by we go into homes or offices and give a quick assessment of what to hang and where. It is amazing what a fresh new hang can do for a space. Happy Big Birthday Niki!
March started with a bang with the launch of The Next Big Thing - An Art Prize. Now in its second year, the quality of entries was nothing short of amazing and we struggled to whittle down the list to just 30 finalists. Sydney Artist Chantelle Stewart, was announced as the winner for 2024, proving to be a popular choice with judges and viewers alike.
April saw the launch of our first gallery group show, Moments and Milestones, where our artists were invited to paint something focusing around that theme. This relaxed show saw big numbers in attendance at the opening as our locals joined us to celebrate celebrating. Happy Big Birthday Bec!
May bore witness to the start of Affordable Art Fair season with the launch of the very first Brisbane show. While we were super excited to have an AAF right in our backyard, we were also a little nervous about how sales would compare to those in the larger southern capitals. Bec was also starting the show solo as Niki was away, but, in anticipation, had put together a team of Grammar Art Show guns to ensure the initial days were smooth. Our worries were unfounded with sales on a par with Sydney and Melbourne and crowd numbers off the charts Congratulations AAF and Brisbane!
June was filled with preparation for the fast approaching Sydney Affordable Art Fair. With 2023 seeing a slow down from the crazy sales of the previous year, we approached this show with some trepidation. However, this year, Sydney brought the energy and could not get enough of big, bold colour. Lucky we had bought a van full of just that!
July and some down time...or not. We thought we'd try our hand at a trade fair and headed to Melbourne for Design and Decor. Lots of great contacts were made and lots of lovely restaurants visited during this mini break of sorts. Melbourne in winter is truly marvellous, just as long as you can stay out of the rain.
August was all about our second solo of the year from the amazing Zory McGrath. Float, a ballerina inspired show, saw a collection of Zory's exquisitely whimsical pieces delight audiences from near and far. We also headed back to Melbourne for the final Australia Affordable Art Fair edition and the beautiful Exhibition building. Once again we came away from this incredible show with full hearts and empty containers.
September is the month Toowoomba comes alive with the Carnival of Flowers. We also managed to pack in two massive shows featuring Hannah Goggs (The Moody Rabbit) as well as Ka Mo and Esmae Barry.
October saw a smidge of downtime again as we readied ourselves for the craziness of of the run down to Christmas. We also opened our event space, Ply, which saw a flurry of activity in the lead in to Christmas.
November was nothing short of massive! We embarked upon our first overseas fair in Singapore and, while our sales fell short of our Australian numbers, the experience was invaluable. We took various family members along for the ride, as well as an artist or two and had an amazing time with all and sundry. Also, the humidity does wonders for your skin!
December brought the year to a close with an incredible solo from TNBT 2024 winner Chantalle Stewart. This near sell out show saw guests from across Australia celebrating Reimagined Youth. It was also time to pause and reflect upon all that transpired in this rapidly passing period.
We are so lucky to have many fabulous artists and amazing customers and supporters. We love what we do and we couldn't do this without their incredible support. Also our families who are our biggest cheerleaders. They pick up the slack in so many ways from bump in crew, to bar staff and everything in between and we would be lost without them.
So Thank You 2024! We have laughed and cried and laughed until we cried throughout your 365 days. We are looking forward to meeting your usurper (I can't think of another word at this time so have gone heavy GOT mode). May 2025 be filled with all that fulfills you, including lots of Art!
Love,
Bec and Nik xo
Bec and Niki xo
