An Art Gallery For All at Noosa Art Gallery
There’s a new art gallery in town which promises something different for art enthusiasts and those who are new to the art scene and looking to infuse some creativity into their hearts and homes. Melanie Rosettenstein speaks all things ‘art’ with Noosa Art Gallery owner Jurek Polkowski.
A fresh face on the art scene, Noosa Art Gallery, located in an industrial complex in Noosaville, is an intriguing space that showcases a rich variety of artworks from bold, contemporary statements to intricate traditional designs. And it all started with one man’s personal art collection. After his wife, Sharon, sadly passed away 18 months ago, art collector, local resident and recent retiree, Jurek Polkowski, revisited a conversation they’d repeatedly had about what to do with his extensive art collection when he passed away.
“I used to say she should give it away or auction it off if I went first, but unfortunately that didn’t happen,” Jurek says.
In a twist of fate, Jurek connected with a friend Karen, owner of Noosa Alterations, who offered him the mezzanine space above her business and suggested he start an art gallery. This is how the foundation for Noosa Art Gallery offering “Art – with an Eclectic Difference” was laid and the gallery officially opened its doors in February this year. Excited about his new venture, Jurek quickly started speaking to friends and reaching out to neighbours and the community to source relevant works. He travelled as far as Melbourne on the hunt for art for his gallery and soon, beautiful artworks started arriving on his doorstep from around Australia.
The idea for his gallery had gained momentum. Noosa Art Gallery now proudly features a colourful collection of works from renowned artists such as Kym Hart (Pro Hart’s son), Gloria Gardiner, Robyn Olsen, Andrew Batosz, Maria Jayaraj, Carole Ayres and Paris Kaye. While he is thrilled to have some big-name artists in his space, he says he also has works from artists who haven’t exhibited for decades or the beautiful but forgotten collections of people who’ve passed away.
Jurek also plans to create a community that supports underground, youth and upcoming artists by allowing them the space to showcase their work for exposure and growth. The vision behind this new gallery is to curate an eclectic art collection from a wide range of artists and make this collection accessible to people from all walks of life. His current collection which is beautifully displayed across two floors features large canvases and paintings, sculptures, ceramics, lithographs and even lightning artboards (pieces of wood which have gone through an electrical process to create patterns across the wood – an absolute must-see).
“Most artists just want to paint,” Jurek says. “They aren’t marketers or salespeople and generally don’t know how to promote themselves.
“Here we are giving them a platform to display their work where they would not normally have had that opportunity.”
The gallery’s look and feel is relaxed, comfortable and welcoming, exactly the atmosphere that Jurek wants to convey.
“People don’t have to feel pressured here. Even if you don’t know anything about art you can come and have a look and see what we have,” he says.
And with prices ranging between $500 and $50,000 for an original piece, there’s surely something that will suit all tastes and budgets. On the importance of art in modern day society, Jurek said it was a creative outlet and the way we experienced art has changed over time.
“It’s like music – these days we listen to everything, not just rock ‘n’ roll today and jazz tomorrow,” he says.
“Art is the same – we can appreciate different types of art at the same time; and that’s what the gallery is all about.
“Art offers a glimpse into a moment, both for the viewer and the artists.
“What were they thinking or imagining at the time of creation? It’s not just a decorative item, it has a deep psychological meaning that another person can see, buy and appreciate.”
In addition to setting the scene for contemporary art dialogue in the region, Noosa Art Gallery will also coordinate public and private commissions and develop collaborative projects. This wonderful creative venture is a prime example of art with heart.
