An Interview with Blackwater
“Art is in your blood, it’s an addiction”
Blackwater Gallery is the newest addition to the Cardiff art scene, a brand-new contemporary gallery opening in Cardiff Bay in March of 2019 and is expected to become the new hub for art lovers and collectors alike. Currently showcasing eighteen of the finest international artists, Blackwater looks to expand not only the reputations of the artist it displays but also the way in which people see galleries in general.
Sitting down with owner Jamie we found out the motivation and objectives he had when developing this beautiful new gallery.
“I think it will open people’s minds.”
Jamie has been an avid collector for many years. “To continue to fulfil my passion as an art collector the next step for me was the realisation that art should be displayed and not hidden away as most of my art work is. For me opening an art gallery was the logical thing to do and I can now concentrate on supporting the artists behind the canvas and exposing the artists to a wider audience. His contagious enthusiasm for all things art has overtaken much of his life, with the planning and research for Blackwater becoming a central focus of the last year.
Blackwater has partly come into existence due to the lack of opportunities in Cardiff for art collectors, with relatively few independent galleries catering to the needs of those who look for something other than prints. His years of frequenting local galleries is what brought Jamie to find the knowledgeable and talented art consultant Ruth. Originally chatting about displayed artists, and attending a number of art fairs throughout the country this progressed to the development of an exciting journey ahead, Blackwater Gallery.
Noticing there was a niche in the market for original artworks, Jamie had to find out how he could not only position himself as a business but also as an institution that could aid the burgeoning artistic talent he had discovered.
“After going out and speaking with the artists and asking them; what are you happy with, and what are you not happy with? The answer was; we’re not happy with the ‘conveyer belt’.
Some galleries look to see how far they can push an artist, releasing more and more prints. And they’ve left these galleries because they are fed up with it.”
One of the main motivational factors was to rethink how it is gallerists relate to their artist and put a focus on building long-term relationships with clients and artists. It’s clear speaking to Jamie that Blackwater is set to be an example of how a gallery can surpass the usual expectations, whilst growing and expanding Cardiff’s contemporary art scene.
Jamie's mode of operation is very much hands-on, whether that’s building friendships with clients or travelling to visit the artists inside their studios.
“In my experience, if I purchased a piece of art I must love it.”
“A lot of people are intimidated to even walk into an art gallery, we have experienced this first hand and it’s our intention for Blackwater Gallery to be accessible to everyone and not the chosen few”.
When it comes to the matter of choice, Blackwater has set itself the task of appealing to a wide demographic and hope their exhibits will help people realise the availability of quality work.
“People don’t realise what you can buy with an original piece of art”, Ruth tells me, “people can now access the best of international talent, here at Blackwater Gallery under one roof”.
It’s obvious that this gallery is going to make a big impact on the local art scene and looks set to become Cardiff’s contemporary arts home. Looking out across the now clear waters of the former coal port, Cardiff Bay’s Blackwater Gallery has something for everyone.
“It’s a different experience.”
Interview by Populate, Cardiff February 2019
