Narre Warren North resident Di Lockwood is helping budding artists display their work.
By Rebecca Fraser
A RETIRED teacher is helping up-and-coming artists display their creative works by converting her spare bedroom into an art gallery.
Narre Warren North resident Di Lockwood first displayed her own creative works last month, and following a successful showing is now keen to showcase and sell the works of other budding artists.
The retired principal and art teacher at Beaconsfield Primary School said she would not make any profit from the new venture but instead was keen to promote the creative talents of others.
Ms Lockwood completed a diploma of visual arts at Chisholm Institute of TAFE in Dandenong last year and during her studies met many students with great pieces of art which were ripe for display.
She said her new gallery, called Libran Dogma, would help students not only showcase their works but also help make some money to fund their tuition.
“Here I am at a stage of my life where I do not want to start a career so instead I want to create a space where other artists starting out can sell their work at an affordable price,” she said.
In return for having their pieces put on display, each artist must do one shift a week at the gallery.
At present, Ms Lockwood is only displaying the works of Chisholm students she has met through her study but she said she would eventually expand upon this and accept the works of other interested artists.
The exhibition changes each month and throughout June the works of Lucy Jones, a mature-aged student from Mt Eliza, are on display.
Ms Lockwood said the gallery had only two-dimensional art, such as paintings and photography, on display but she was in contact with a sculptor and there were plans to also exhibit his works.
The artist has also converted a front lounge room of her A’Beckett Road home into a studio so she can continue with her own work.
“I want to help students take their work out from under their beds and get them out on display,” Ms Lockwood said.
The gallery is open from Friday through to Sunday from 11am to 4pm and is located at 62 A’Beckett Road, Narre Warren North.
For inquiries email librandogma@gmail.com.
