Artists concerned after
Groundfloor Gallery closes
By Lauren Farrow
Birchgrove’s Groundfloor Gallery
is at the centre of controversy this
month, with several Sydney artists
claiming they are owed more than
$20,000 collectively for sold works.
Sydney artists Darren Gannon,
Caroline Corby and Tony Priddle
have alleged that gallery director
Jeannette Mascolo has not paid
them for artworks sold at their exhi-
bitions, which were held in March,
May and August this year.
According to the artists, they each
had contracts with Ms Mascolo and
had artworks sold at their exhibi-
tion, but despite repeated requests
for payment had received none.
“I sent through a letter of demand
on September 29, that was the last
contact I have ever had with her,”
Darren Gannon said.
A search of the business name
Groundfloor Gallery by the Village
Voice found that its registration with
the office of Fair Trading was can-
celled on September 30.
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Mr Gannon said while his expe-
rience with the Groundfloor Gallery
was “unusual”, it highlighted a
broader problem within the indus-
try, where practices and standards
were inconsistent and unregulated.
“I have never not been paid be-
fore, but there is sometimes a diffi-
culty getting paid on time. Certainly,
sometimes there seems to be a drip
feed mentality,” Mr Gannon said.
According to Robyn Ayres, execu-
tive director of the Arts Law Centre
of Australia, which provides legal
and business advice to artists, many
of the organisation’s clients faced
problems with debt recovery.
But unlike the circumstances at
Groundfloor Gallery, this was be-
cause artists had not drawn-up con-
tracts.
While “normal” business would
always include a written agreement
or contract, Ms Ayres said many in
the art world bypassed this proce-
dure.
“Part of what we are trying to do
drawing,
painting and photography
by
ROWAN
FOTHERINGHAM
at
gallery
Shed 4 - 142a Mullens St. Balmain
The former Groundfloor Gallery in Birchgrove is empty and has a For Lease sign on the door.
Sydney artist Tony Priddle (above) said he has not been paid for artworks sold by the gallery.
is to encourage artists to manage According to a spokeswoman
their work in a business-like way,” from the Office of Fair Trading, no
Ms Ayres said. complaints had been received re-
“Often artists are so keen to get garding Groundfloor Gallery.
galleries to exhibit their work that Village Voice has repeatedly
they do not want to push for a writ- tried to contact the gallery direc-
ten agreement from a gallery.” tor Jeannette Mascolo for comment
Ms Ayres said artists should always but has not received a response.
have a contract or written agreement Village Voice visited the Groundfloor
via email and should investigate the Gallery last month, but found that
gallery before exhibiting. the premises were for lease.
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