Cooktown’s Bizarre Bazaar pop-up hopes to provide local art to local homes at a bargain. Photo: Supplied.
If you’re after some artwork for the new year, Cooktown School of Art Society’s (CSAS) first pop-up exhibition is offering local pieces at a bargain price.
Cooktown artists will display their talents at the Elizabeth Guzsely Gallery as part of Bizarre Bazaar, which opened on 1 December.
CSAS president Jane Dennis said the pop-up was a chance for artists to display works that did not fit into any exhibition themes.
“We’re exploring the idea of getting art we have in our houses that doesn’t seem relevant to any exhibitions and bringing them out at a time when people are perhaps looking for something unusual,” she said.
“I’m excited to see artwork from all different eras and all different styles.
“It’s going to be like one of those Moroccan bazaars, where there’s just everything everywhere, and hopefully, it’s going to be bizarre.”
Ms Dennis said artists were charged just one dollar per entry, helping keep the price affordable for buyers in this win-win arrangement.
“We’re giving a very good price for artists – we’re not charging them a commission, which is pretty unusual,” she said.
“If you work volunteering in the gallery, you definitely get a discount, but for a non-member, we normally charge 30 per cent.
“I thought this would be a great opportunity for everyone – someone can get a bargain and artists can air unseen works.”
She said the Bizarre Bazaar would continue until 31 December and be updated as pieces sold.
“It’ll probably be interchangeable, so what you see is not necessarily all that will be on show,” she said.
“If we sell something, we’ll put something else up. We’ll have tables with unframed artwork on it and some will be framed.”
