A New Wave - The High Seas
Written by Louise Evans
Situated in the snug Beresford Square in central Auckland, a large glass frontage frames an airy light space with tastefully placed t-shirt and print racks, bookshelves and a huge desk spread with comics. A black sign hovers over the doorway, with a bonny ship sailing off on adventure. This is the High Seas, a new home for the illustration and arts scene in Auckland. I hop off a bus on K Rd one Tuesday, and stroll around the corner to catch up with its creators.
The High Seas (the name poached from a comic) is the brainchild of creative whizz-kids Sophie Watson and Nigel Wright. Earlier in the year, another group venture to set up a new arts space flopped. Frustrated by the lack of proactive attitudes, they packed up their enthusiasm, and took it elsewhere to make a gallery, venue and shop distinctly their own. Having been around the arts scene for a long time, they knew what they hadn’t seen, and what people would like to see happen.
Sophie studied fine arts, specialising in screen-printing and printmaking. She’s exhibited work and contributed to publications regularly, and is a keen follower of New Zealand and international illustrators. Nigel is involved with the alternative and improvisational music community, both in performing and in organising events.
Together they bring their eclectic sensibilities to the High Seas.
After signing the lease they got to work immediately to open their doors. The space itself didn’t require too much renovations as it was being used as an animation studio (hence the huge desk), and already had high ceilings and good light. They constructed extra gallery walls, researched and ordered the stock for their shop, and arranged a few exhibitions to kick off with. Six weeks later they opened their doors, with a packed exhibition preview and music evenings.
To supplement their venture the pair are holding down jobs outside of the gallery. Nigel works in IT (telecommunications and broadcasting, to be specific) and Sophie currently works in pizza (working at a pizza place, to be specific). They took also deep breath and big loan, to make sure they paid the rent for the first year. ‘The High Seas probably won’t make us rich’ says Sophie, with a resigned but contented expression. ‘But it’s fun.’
This is a massive undertaking, for its prime central location and niche content. However alarm bells fail to ring in my mind as both Sophie and Nigel seem quietly confident. They balance their three week exhibitions (with only commissions coming back to the gallery) with sales from a diverse and downright interesting shop stocked with handpicked publications from around the world, local and international music, prints and clothing. It’s a delight to rummage through, and getting Sophie and Nigel talking about it shows the depth of their geekery (ahem, passion!) for such things.
Sophie wanted a bookshop that stocked the work of the sort of illustrators, graphic novelists and comic artists that she’d seen overseas. It’s not something she’s seen much of in this country. ‘In NZ there’s very little education for illustration at tertiary institutions, it doesn’t really seem to be in the curriculum. I’d like to see value placed on it as an artform....elevate the status of illustration’. Certainly there are some amazing books on offer, a huge range of quirky, colourful, and beautifully crafted publications sourced from all over the world and lots too from good old NZ.
The High Seas is also providing a home for Audio Foundation and experimental music related titles, where there previously hasn’t been a physical outlet to sell such recordings. Nigel’s history in the scene, and his knowledge of its makers and shakers, makes light work of the selling. ‘Because I know the people so well, and the work they do, it’s easy to recommend and talk with people about it. But the music we sell here isn’t just experimental – there are also all sorts of other good music from other genres’.
The last thing they want to define themselves as being exclusive. ‘We’re aware that there’s a danger in being pigeonholed’, says Nigel. The space is open to anything, as a venue, performing arts space, gallery, retail shop – a place that will welcome fringe arts. Basically they just want to see more vibrancy and a bigger range of artistic and musical aesthetics in the current arts scene. They are always on the look out for more contributors and artists
Overall it’s a testament to tenacity of Sophie and Nigel. At the time of our interview (a few weeks after opening) all the exhibition slots had been booked up until next year, and they were preparing for workshops and the comic weekend in October. My impression is that the High Seas been so well crafted that it’s difficult not to understand and like what the High Seas does or doesn’t do. At the end of our interview a guy drops in with a black marker pen that’s been dropped outside. ‘I thought that this must be yours?’ he said. Of course it is.
www.thehighseas.co.nz
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