A quarter-century in business is a long time for anyone these days – especially when your humble roots lay in the fickle art world in a small beachside locale.
Cool Art Framing and CA Gallery founder and co-owner Joe McFeeters admits that ‘back in five’ mad dashes to the surf have also featured among the 25 years of custom framing, art exhibitions and high school projects.
He hung in there, survived a 2017 move and expansion, and now runs the Coolum Beach business with partner and gallery director Erin Castle.
Joe said artists and clientele had led the way for him since he first opened Cool Art in 1998 as a fresh-faced 22-year-old.
So, to celebrate, an exciting group exhibition of locally based artists that have come along for the journey will mark the occasion in May.
“I’ve learnt so much from the artists and clients who have come to get works framed over the years,” Joe said.
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“I consider many of them friends and some mentors in regards to exhibitions, curation and installation.
“We’ve had some unforgettable exhibition openings, especially in those early days on Beach Road.”
From the little shop that could on Beach Road, set back off the David Low Way main strip, Cool Art’s custom framing and gallery fit-out now extends across two warehouse spaces in Coolum Industrial Estate at 4-5/43 Access Crescent.
With an ever-growing audience, the business continues to represent some of the region’s most prolific and established contemporary visual artists.
Thirty-four of those will be featured in the anniversary exhibition, titled 25.
“The best thing about this business is the people you meet,” Joe said.
“We have such a strong stable of artists and we love it when their work is collected and enjoyed in homes and workplaces.”
The 25 exhibition opens on May 15 and continues until June 12.
Featured artists cover the spectrum of genres and include Rex Backhaus-Smith, Kym Barrett, ronniecay, Amy Clarke, Prue Clay, Dennis Forshaw, Sue Gill, David Green, Helena Jackson-Lloyd, Judith Laws, Rosie Lloyd-Giblett, Blair McNamara, Robyn Shaw, Bob Smith, Pam Walpole, Adrienne Williams and Jan Williamson, as well as invited artists Lisa Chandler, Tony Coles, Finn Cossar, Andrew Dixon, Jacqueline Gonsal, Yeats Gruin, Odessa Mahony-de Vries, Mandy McGuire, Yvonne Mills-Stanley, Nick Olsen, Chris Postle, Trish Robson, Des Rolph, Starr, Peter Sunaklis, Dianne Swan and John Waldron.
Gallery hours are 9am-5pm, Tuesdays to Fridays, and 9am-2pm, Mondays and Saturdays.
Find out more on the website.
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