Pete Morris Art blogger www.sunlive.co.nz

I thought it was time I wrote a BTW blog and column about some issues surrounding the visual arts in Tauranga.

Because I only write my opinion pieces once a week I haven't been able to discuss, or hopefully start a conversation, about a number of art issues that have been bubbling away in the background for some time.

After my extensive involvement with Art Fair 2011 I was dismayed to see what I saw in the Durham Street carpark on Sunday, 24th March this year.

Art Fair 2013 was a lonely cold affair and I really felt for the brave souls who were there with their art.

The artworks on display were great but couldn't be displayed to best advantage in these conditions.

As I walked up Spring Street with a friend towards the event my heart began to sink as not a single piece of promotional signage could be seen. This was also the case on Durham Street.

I'm sure rudimentary signage could have been organised given that stalls for the 'event' cost $50 each.

The lights were off when we were there. This made what was a low light venue even darker.

Creative Tauranga's involvement in events like the fantastic Summer Festival are to be applauded loudly but they botched Art Fair 2013 badly.

Experience teaches us that events of this kind need ownership and that generally means one or two dedicated persons driving the organisational requirements from inception to conclusion. This was not apparent.

Public art - sculpture by Tuti Tukaokao - Grey Street, Tauranga.

Dame Lynley Dodd deserves recognition for her remarkable achievements in writing and art.

She is a national treasure.

I sometimes wonder about the proposed scale of celebrating those achievements in bronze on Tauranga's waterfront.

While walking around Auckland's Aotea Square recently I saw that city's bronze salute* to Sir Dove - Meyer Robinson and his outstanding work for Auckland and her citizens. It is a modest looking sculpture ( in terms of size ) by Tobias Twiss and it would be interesting to know what the cost of that project was.

While the idea of a Hairy Maclary sculptural celebration is good the money to be spent on this group of sculptures is considerable.

It would be great if tasked organisations gave even more support to facilitating the growth of our own local sculptors to do public art works that also have relevance to our city's story.

The sums needed would be considerably less than what looks to be a Hairy Maclary fiscal blowout.

The Creative Tauranga Community Gallery.

Another BTW is the cost of mounting an exhibition at our funded Creative Tauranga Community Gallery.

Creative Tauranga, who have an important part to play in fostering our visual arts, have had some very well curated exhibitions over the years as part of their role in promoting the arts in general.

Some of the exhibitions are a real joy. The care and attention to detail given to these shows is clear to see.

After looking at Creative Tauranga Community Gallery's written material the impression I get is that the artist or group is charged $40 dollars to become a 'friend' of Creative Tauranga, $250 plus 15%GST to hire the gallery space, costs for signage within the gallery, costs associated with some publicity, costs for refreshments and then 30% commission and 15%GST on top of that if works are sold.

It's a very tall order for many of our artists wanting a solo exhibition especially those who are starting out.

After reading the same material ( undated but released in late 2012 ) it doesn't specify how the costings for group exhibitions are levied but those exhibiting in group exhibitions pay 30% commission plus 15% GST on any work sold.

Unlike private galleries who bare all the costs of rent, wages, power etc etc it is not surprising that eyebrows are occasionally raised.

It costs artists nearly as much to mount an exhibition at the funded Creative Tauranga Community Gallery as it does in some private sector galleries.

Maybe it is time for some policy changes to be made.

Most surprising is that concerns and questions don't seem to be asked publically ( ... plenty of mutterings ) and as a supporter of 'growing' the visual arts in Tauranga and someone who contributes financially I have to wonder why.

Hopefully further discussion and opinions will begin to flow.

*Sir Dove-Meyer sculpture http://www.publicartaroundtheworld.com/Sir_Dove-Meyer_Robinson_statue.html

Pete Morris is an occasional painter and an art lover. He is a freelance writer with a particular interest in promoting the visual arts in Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty.