My name is Charlotte, sometimes known as Ms Lottie, occasionally as The Slightly Mad Quilt Lady. This is my blog, where you'll find me writing a lot about my quilting and textile arts and a little about my family's life in a small seaside town in New Zealand. Haere mai!

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Opua Arts Studio and Gallery Last Days

About a year and a half ago I became an art gallery owner.  It wasn't something I'd ever wanted to be, but it was a way for me to get a studio space close to my home (boat) and form closer connections to the local art community, so I took the opportunity and jumped in wholeheartedly.

The view from upstairs in my studio.
I had the use of a commercial office space while it had no tenant, but now, I'm very sad to report, my landlords have found a permanent commercial tenant.  That means that Opua Arts is no longer as of 31 October 2016.  The landlords have been great, and they wrote me the nicest notice of termination that I've ever received.


I considered making a little voodoo doll of the new tenant when I first received the news.  The thought of using the doll as a pincushion was very appealing!  And the worry about where I would work was a bit overwhelming.  But in truth, I've been expecting the news ever since I moved in.  It's a gorgeous space and Opua is an up and coming area with a new Marina expansion in progress and a general upturn of the Northland economy.

So then I got to accepting the idea.  And do you know what really made me accept it?  My electric jug died.  Isn't it weird how a little thing like that can change your perception?  My jug (or kettle if you like) was given to me when I moved into the studio and I realised I'd need to make cups of tea.  Mathea, a fellow textile artist, gave me her spare one from when she had a studio.

It started playing up right around the time I got the news.  I'd switch it on and it wouldn't go.  I'd jiggle the connections and it would come right.  It got worse and worse and it got me realising how maybe the jug was done.  And that got me thinking about how maybe I was done.  Maybe this was a sign that all good things come to an end and it was time for something new.


I've had fun in the studio and gallery.  I've enjoyed curating exhibitions.  I've met wonderful people at my weekly stitch and bitch sessions.  And I've learnt so, so much.  But it's time to move on.  Now that I'm over the disappointment, I'm really looking forward to having a break from the gallery work and being able to concentrate solely on my artwork.

Memories of Flight by Charlotte Scott
And I've found a new studio space too!  More on that in my next post.

9 comments:

  1. Sad/happy story? When one door closes another always opens doesn't it............best wishes!

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  2. Sad but good, good luck with the new studio space. Hanging on till New Year and January - can't wait!! Kids are so excited...

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  3. I'm Visiting NZ in February. I was looking forward to visiting your studio. Delighted to read that you have found Riggs. Look forward to hearing about y

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  4. Oh, I'm sad about this! But glad you're seeing a positive side to it. Enjoy your extra time.

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  5. How nice to see you, Charlotte, so happy sitting in this office which is/was really beautiful - but your new one will also take over your spirits.
    Good luck!

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  6. I'm so sorry! It was so much fun looking at your posts about your gallery, and it was obvious you were loving it.

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  7. How sad Charlotte! But how good that you can look at it in a positive light and think of the opportunities ahead. I hope you come up with something great.

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  8. What a shame! You worked so hard at the gallery, though I do understand that you will have more time for your own art.

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  9. Sad to hear the gallery is closing. I only got to pear through the window on our Northland trip last year but you had created a beautiful space. I hope the next stage of your creative journey is just as exciting.

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