Coolum picture framing and gallery business Cool Art celebrates its 25th anniversary with a remarkable exhibition, this May.
A long way from the little shop that could, on Coolum’s Beach road back in the day, Cool Art’s custom framing and gallery fit-out now extends across two warehouse spaces in Coolum’s Industrial estate – to an ever growing audience.
It’s been 25 years of custom framing, art exhibitions, high school projects and ‘back in 5’ mad dashes to the surf – before the 2017 expansion away from Beach Road.
Founder and co-owner Joe McFeeters (who runs the business with partner Erin, now) says it’s the artists and clientele that have led the way for him since he first opened Cool Art back in 1998 as a fresh-faced 22-year-old.
“I’ve learnt so much from the artists and clients who have come to get works framed over the years,” Joe said. “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!”
Cool Art Framing and CA Gallery (as its now known) continues to represent some of the region’s most prolific and established contemporary visual artists.
Thirty-four of which will be featured in the business’s 25th Anniversary exhibition, ‘25’ on show from May 15 to June 12.
“The best thing about this business is the people you meet,” Joe said. “We have such a strong stable of artists that we love it when their work is collected and enjoyed in homes and workplaces.”
‘25’ opens May 15 at CA Gallery, 4-5/43 Access Crescent, Coolum Beach.
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, 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.
Exhibition continues until June 12.
Gallery hours are 9am – 5pm, Tuesdays to Fridays and 9am to 2pm Mondays and Saturdays.
Find out more on their website: coolartgallery.com.au
