The Sydney East Art Walk is returning for DoDarlo’s Xmas Party, but it’s been around for some time. Where did the concept come from and how does it work?
The Sydney East Art Walk was the brainchild of fellow gallerist Conny Dietzschold who runs Conny Dietzschold Gallery. The idea comes from Europe and was implemented by the Dank Street group of galleries of which Conny was a part. Her move to Darlinghurst prompted her to create the SEAWALK, a great idea!
How does the art walk deal with the perception of art galleries as exclusive places and make them more accessible to the community?
By creating the art walk we are generating a map – on the day of the art walks we have lots of people wandering between galleries, it’s a great buzz. The map can be and is used between art walks for people to discover the 20-plus galleries in this East Sydney area. The casual nature of the walk and the friendly reception which people find when they visit the numerous galleries has introduced a whole new audience to the galleries.
Sydney is by far Australia’s biggest city – why do you encourage people to explore these cultural spaces on foot and not by car?
The galleries on the whole are in close proximity, and being in the heart of Sydney there are many transport options, so driving could limit your experience as you can discover so much more on foot. The bars and great eateries in the east are everywhere if you know where to look, and the galleries are happy to point people in the direction of something yummy as they make their way to the next exhibition.
What range of artworks can visitors expect to see on their art walk afternoon?
The galleries in the East Sydney Art Walk represent a broad cross-section of the arts, which is what you would expect from artists. The work and the galleries are a reflection of the concerns and personalities that make up this diverse precinct and Australia in general. There are galleries which have been operating for 50 years, such as Watters Gallery, and new galleries such as Stanley Street Gallery, which is in its fourth year. The collegiate feeling among the galleries is, I think, unique to this field.
Apart from the art walk, you represent Stanley Street Gallery – is there anything special planned for DoDarlo on Saturday December 5?
For the DoDarlo event, Stanley Street Gallery will be hosting a soiree in our beautiful courtyard, wine and refreshing drinks and an opportunity to view truly unique works of art and jewellery. It is also an opportunity to meet some of the artists – oh, and we will be offering free gift wrapping for your pressies.
Sydney East Art Walktakes place onSaturday December 5 in Darlinghurst, as part of DoDarlo Xmas Party 2015. More info about DoDarlo here.
