Merry Christmas!

The picture says it all... so I dont need to ;)

Merry Christmas

Customers are like busses!

Big and Red! Only joking. You can see no one for hours. Even manage to watch a whole movie on the computer. Then the door will swing open and I'll shoot up in my stool and say 'hello', 'Good Morning' and 'Merry Christmas' to the group of people filing in through the door. Then the cue will form 6 people thick at the till, in no way a bad thing i hasten to add, and the phone will ring! Bedlam!
I love my customers! People I've known practically all my life, as well as new faces, which are a joy for me to see, as then I can tell how people (and if people) are getting to know that we're here!
It's always fun to see what they will like, trying to guesse is impossible, as people are indeed like books, (more so than like busses!) you can not read them by appearance alone. And the variety too, It's a good job we have so much choice here, so far everyone seems happy.
Then, they're all seen to. Purchases wrapped, change given, receipts refused (when will people learn?!) and I wave them fondly off out the door again.
And here I sit in the quiet once more. Time to pick another movie! 'Howls Moving Castle', it is!
Does any one else love their job as much as me?!

First class takes place

Our second week, and due to popular demand, Life Drawing classes begin on the 21st November.
We plan to start on the Wednesday, so I call my models... no answer!
I text, email, face book... no answer!
PANIC!
The posters already out, places are booked, people have paid!
Enter- MY HERO!
My fiance Allyn, over from the states to help out in the opening of the gallery, offers to fill in until I can sort it all out, and so he does fir the first night... and the second!
What a star, I am forever grateful!
The following week, I manage to employ a professional life model and my original model finally contacts me, so a male and female model are booked, and the customers are satisfied and I'm relieved! Hooray!
The next Life drawing classes now will be in January, a 5 week course, but we've had to move it to a larger location as the class is filling up fast and we've run out of space to house it all at the gallery, plus it gets tiresome having to move all the shop floor layout every week, sometimes twice a week!
We're still working on a venue, but come rain or shine, there will be a life drawing class!!!

Arthur's shop captured on canvas...

One of our crowd pullers in the beginning was the presence of a rather large piece called 'Arthur's Shop', by artist Keith John. This piece is based on the old Iron mongers in Taff's Well, famous in the local area for holding.. well... pretty much anything you could possibly need!
The shop was owned and run by Arthur himself, though the shop had the name Arthur over the door before he even bought it, so perhaps it was meant to be?!
Arthur was a character, much loved by the Taff's well community, a local hero who sadly died 2 years ago. It was widely known that anything you needed, whatever it be! Arthur would have it in the shop... somewhere?! And I think in all of its history there were barely any unsatisfied customers, as if Arthur didn't have it, I'm sure if you told him what it was for, he'd have something else just as good if not better!
Since We've had the painting in the shop, We'll see shopaholic girlfriends enthusiastically looking in the jewellery displays at the gallery, and dragging behind them... their boyfriends. But after begrudgingly tagging along upstairs, when they come back down, its a delight to see the smiles on their faces, full of nostalgia after seeing 'Arthur's shop'.
And some tales we've been told- one guy used to go in and think of the most random item he could think of with his mates and test Arthur to find it, and every time, Arthur would disappear into the caverns of the store and return with exactly what they needed!
Another guy went in with his mobile phone, his friend had told him to try Arthur's, telling him 'you name it He'll have it!', but this guy had little hope in finding something in this olde world shop for his state of the art phone, but lo and behold, left in Arthur's capable hands, with one of these and a few of these... 'Good as new!'
Then two gents came in and after seeing the painting, complained of its inaccuracy!
'Where's all the cats then?!'
Apparently, in amongst all the stock piles of this and that, could be seen dozens of resident cats in the shop, but as this guys childhood memory of the place and the artists time painting it are far apart, we can only assume that those cats are now sitting on clouds somewhere, strumming little kitty harps (without cat gut strings!)
This shop is well known to have been the inspiration for the popular TV series 'Open all Hours' Starring Ronnie Barker and David Jason, who must have seen the shop on visits to his then girlfriend at the time Mwfanwy, a local Taffs Well girl.
It was also the inspiration for the two Ronnie's sketch 'Fork handles'/ 'Four candles'.
The painting itself is nearly 3 meters long, almost 3 dimensional, and pictures the man himself, Arthur, sitting behind his counter amidst his Aladdin's cave type shop of stock, his 70 year old apprentice in the back, and a satisfied customer leaving though the front door.

Giles Gallery Grand Opening!

So the ribbon was fixed, the scissors handed, the poses set, the cameras clicked and the ribbon was cut!
Giles Gallery is officially open to the public!
The people came in, delight in their eyes at something new to the area, and something so different too!
Nothing but good things to say, kind words, compliments and hand shakes.
Wine flowed and canapes were passed around amongst the crowd, and there was a crowd!
an hour or so in, a space was made for guest speakers to say a few words. Introductions made by my Uncles brother Keith John, who completed his foundation course the year before and has a few striking pieces in the first floor display. Next a speech by Boyd Clack... planned or spontaneous, this speech had me close to tears, so much so i prayed no one would ask me to speak as id break down and fall to pieces if they did!
Next a touching speech by the Rev. Roy Sherman, his memories of a talented local artist, sadly no longer with us, but of how this establishment would have been a joy for her to see, and how it Will be to many who remain to see its wonderful presence in our growing little community! May its presence help Pontyclun flourish!
The till rang all day, the food ran out and some guests were cut off from the wine supply for fear of losing some of the more delicate pieces of art in the gallery!
By 6pm, that took years it seemed to come, we turned the sign, tallied the till and switched out the lights and locked up the doors.
What an amazing day that i will never forget!

To make an art gallery...

Well, first you need some where to have the art gallery!
This was perhaps the most important desicion to be made. Alot of things had to be taken into account, for as they say on T.V. their are three main important things with this kind of venture... 'LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!!'
We started looking at a premises on the main road, though be it at the quieter end of the village. This site would have left us enhabiting a ground floor terraced house/ cottage converted to retail many many moons ago! There wwas alot to be done to this place, but our potential landlord promised us everything we needed, it all sounded so good! Almost too good, and indeed that whole deal fell through.
Back to the hunt!
Then we came across a property we had previously dismissed out of hand, off the main road, though only by a miniscule 30 feet or so. A previously residentlial property converted to offices, as yet unleased, and had been sitting as so for quite some time.
So we called the estate agent and asked to view it.
When we got inside, mouthes dropped. It was so much bigger than expected, so crisp and yet comfortable, a blank canvas inviting us to stake our claim on it. PERFECT!
And it turned out we knew the family that own it, so this all helps towards smooth sailing, only planning permission for change of use from offices to retail stood in our way, and a heart in mouth situation developed for over 2 months waiting for the local councils verdict on whether we could go ahead.
While this was going on we made some head way into contacting artists, painters, printers, ceramacists, textilers, jewelers etc, so we knew people would be aware of us if and hopefully when we got the go ahead. But nothing more than provisional probing, nothing concrete, no contracts signed n hands firmly shaken, untill we knew that it wouldnt all be for nothing.
Mind you , saying this, we had already set an opening date, going by when we should get the results of the planning application, and how long it would be to get everything ready. We decided the first week in October!
So, we waited, and waited... and then! an answer phone message left on our machine while we were out 'probing'.
'Hello Miss.Giles, This is Nick Davies from the estate agents, Im not sure if youve heard yet, but you have been granted the change of use for cerdin Avenue from offices to retail...'
My friend from uni , Adam, was visiting at the time, and was then present to witness me run a circle on the hall floor while lying on my side, much to his bemused amusment and entertainment.
YESS, WE GOT IT!
OH NO!!! Now we had to get everything ready, for whats an art gallery with nothing in it?! (I know they exhist and charge exorbident amounts for doorways and fire extinguishers, but Im not into 'that' kind of art!)
So a run around it was, to every artist we knew, clamouring for their work, but thankfully, the wonderfull people that we have met on this journey have been so supportive and helpfull, we've had nothing but great fortune so far.
Only we were running late!
Push back the opening, our only choice!
1st week in November!
ok, a little more time to play with.
Luckily, shop fitting wise, my father is an excellent scavenger, and our house had been slowly filling over the previouse months with furiature and things that may or may not come in handy for the gallery and its layout. So while my god sent father decorated the premises and my friends and family all helped clean refurbish carry and cart, the gallery came together... only another snag... time she slips from us again!
Push back the opening one week!
the 10th of November!
The official opening day, It'll have to be now, its on the flyers, so we've got to do it, no choice!
So, again with much help from my dear dear friends from all over, we get the stock into the gallery, artists arriving every day to congratulate us on our brave new venture and to add their amazing work to our growing collection of what can only be described as treasure!
(There could be another ten paragraphs on the hell we had with security, gates cameras alarms etc, but its nothing but a bore, so just know that it happened and thats enough ;))
So on came the 8th Nov, working late into the night... I think we left the gallery at 3 am?! then another full day the next day, Fri. And that night, a party of a personal nature with family and friends, all supportive and well wishing, thank you all!
Then Saturday the 10th November- Giles Gallery Grand Opening...on the flyer it says 10am...
10 am comes...WE'RE NOT READY!
Due to my mum's contacts, we have a celebrity kindly opening our gallery for us this fine day, only he cant make it untill after 1pm!
SO!
run around, last minute madness but we get it done and lo and behold in walks Mr. Boyd Clak!
ON WITH THE SHOW!

The Journey so far...

Where did it all start?
Well... after finishing my degree at Hereford Collage of Art and Design, and 3 years of living away from home, I traveled to the states, Florida, then Africa, Uganda for a bit, then back to the states until March 2007.... Then it was back to reality! Time to make some decisions. What am I going to do for the rest of my life?!
I applied for every job going, in the typical post grad panic- "must make money to pay back student loan!"
All the typical avenues were explored, the majority of which were telesales jobs 'SOLE DESTROYING WORK!'. But someone has to do it, and get paid for the sacrifice, which is all I needed! BUT! and if any one has experienced this, I couldn't get this menial minimum brain powered work?! So I've developed a theory!
I'm over qualified!
Due to my C.V. containing the work 'Degree', I'm seen as a 'flight risk' to the world of corporate staff hiring. In other words, they fear that the moment I get a whiff of something better and more in my Field of academics (is this a word?!) I'll do a bunk... and rightly so!
Hence, no 3 sided mdf cubicle for me, with my own head set type phone equipment.
So I considered, perhaps I was meant for better, something more in my line of expertise... roll on the deluge of emails and phone calls to art establishments, institutes and galleries in the area!
And what do I uncover...?!
' Well Miss Giles, you do indeed sound perfectly qualified for the job, and would be a wonderful addition to our work force, however... (I now have an intense loathing for this word!)... we currently have no spaces available in any of the positions you have enquired about, we will however keep your details on file for a later date.'
Until one day I had this reply from Cardiff National Art Gallery...
'Dear Miss Giles, We were very impressed with your C.V. and are really interested in offering you a managerial position in our work force, however (grrr), the placement you have applied for is currently filled, also however, (I'm not sure how i feel about this one?!) We do have a new premises opening and would be very interested in offering to you this new placement...'
My heart skips a beat! a job?! a real life fulfilling job?!
'... Our new premises will be opening in the Hereford area, would you be interested?'

Hereford...... again..... 3 years.... just left..... I don't think I could bring myself to go back, and it would be to live again, too far to commute every day.
Me-' Thanks for the offer, but I'm afraid the option to relocate is not one for me.'

Would have been nice tho I'm sure.

So, spiraling into a Pitt of turmoil, not depression mind you! never that! cant stand the stuff! complete waste of time!

Mum took me aside and asked the question that got this whole ball rolling...

'What have you always wanted to do?!'

Now, who else remembers what they answered when their teacher asked the question every teacher is bound to ask a primary school student, 'What do you want to be when you grow up?!'

Now other than my rudimentary answer...'Taller!' My other constant answer to this question stayed the same every time. 'I want to have my own art gallery!'

So! There was the seed, and with my mums encouraging answer to this statement 'So why don't you just do it?!' The plan grew from there, and is now its fledgling self.
With much running around, allot of planning, re-planning, throwing plans out the window and starting a new plan! And much welcome financial help from friends and family, thank you all so much I Love you all! Here we have... Giles Gallery!