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The NGA mega clearance sale will fill Gandel Hall. Photo: NGA.
For nine days in July starting on Saturday 4th, Canberrans can acquire memorabilia from great NGA exhibitions as well as spectacular pieces from local artists when the NGA Shop packs out the gallery’s Gandel Hall with a mega clearance sale of unique and quality items.
Staff are busy organising the event, which includes works by Canberra and Australian designers and artists. Open from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm, the sale will include lamps, bags, vases, ceramics, books, framed prints, puzzles, games and decorative homewares.
Also included are gifts, posters and postcards from previous major exhibitions including Matisse & Picasso, Love & Desire, and Cartier and Versailles: Treasures from the Palace.
The sale is being held in advance of the new NGA Shop which is being built in the main foyer to the right of the Gallery’s famous towering escalators. It’s scheduled to open later this year.
The sale won’t be a ticketed event but due to COVID-19 restrictions, a limit of 100 visitors will be allowed into Gandel Hall at any one time, with contact tracing measures and contact-less payment in place.
“There are beautiful products and there’s something for everyone and all at half price,” says Karen Bustamante, NGA Retail Manager/Buyer.
Ceramic artist Erin Lightfoot – originally from Canberra – will begin to stock her jewellery and unique vases with the NGA.
As with everything at the NGA, there’s more than meets the eye with Erin’s works which draw inspiration from past movements such as Art Deco.
Another featured supplier, FiNK Design, will continue to be showcased, with the NGA one of the studio’s biggest stockists. FiNK’s famous ‘Water Jug’, the first product to be created by the company, will be available.
Contemporary Canberra jeweller Phoebe Porter will also continue to sell her work through the gallery, including her elegant and refined rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets, which are all handmade here in the capital.
“We’ll have well-priced, new stock, new lines and more NGA branded in-house products,” says Karen. “Offerings will include ethically and environmentally sourced products and beautiful books.”
The NGA will continue to commission local artists to produce work exclusively for the new NGA Shop.
“We’ll focus on limited runs and limited editions focusing on the national collections,” says Karen. “We want to inspire people to connect with the artwork.”
NGA Shop clearance sale is open from 4 July to 12 July from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Entry and exit to the sale will be through the Australian Garden doors only. No access will be available to the Gallery through Gandel Hall.
Original Article published by Wendy Johnson on The RiotACT.