Lorraine and Patrick Williams.
After ten years operating the seven days a week business owners Lorraine and Patrick Williams have decided it’s time to close. They’ve been involved in marketing, promoting and supporting the arts in Wellington for more than 25 years and that’s not about to end with the gallery’s closure. Lorraine will continue her involvement with various art bodies, and Patrick, a working artist, will have more time to paint.
“We’re not retiring, it’s just time to do something different,” Lorraine says.“
When the Williams opened their Jackson Street gallery in 2001 they wanted to create a showroom for significant and emerging artists as well as educating the public about good art.
“There was too much pretension with people trying to intellectualise art too much. Really if it does it for you as a piece of art then that’s all you need.” Lorraine says.
They held artist talks at the gallery and held classes on how to start an art collection.
“The artists loved talking about their art and the public loved learning about it. They felt comfortable about asking us questions which they were often afraid to ask at other galleries.”
Another Williams success has been their support of aboriginal art. The WIlliams say they were the first commercial gallery in New Zealand to hold exhibitions of work by Australian aboriginal artists. Organising the first show three years ago involved a trip to the Australian outback meeting with artists, some of whom had not exhibited their art before.
“It was an absolute sell out show,” Lorraine says. “The public loved it.”
Williams Gallery will close at the beginning of June.
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