“In 2004, I had a vision to start an art gallery and help support artists to sell their work,” says Leah (Ngäti Ruanui). “I have always been creative and have a passion for promoting New Zealand art.”
The art business wasn’t new to Leah. About 10 years ago she started a business, Julie O’, with her mother Julie Spittlehouse. The pair transformed old wine bottles and glass-house panels into platters and gifts, distributing in stores throughout New Zealand.
“My mum had been diagnosed with breast cancer and I had just got married. We were both going through a transition in our lives and stumbled across the process of slumping wine bottles into moulds and adding colour and design to create these functional art pieces.
Mum is hugely creative. My inspiration comes from her, and together we made a real business out of it.”
And business flourished. They were marketing into more gift shops and galleries across the country and started exporting into Australia. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing.
Between Leah and her husband Jeremy, who were also first time parents with a new-born baby, they were juggling two businesses (Jeremy had a business spraying truck bodies on the weekends) and two day-jobs in order to pay their large mortgage.
Then, tragedy struck. In 2001, Leah lost her husband.
“He was my rock and, suddenly, he was gone. Things started to get really tough, but we kept going. In 2004 I registered An Eye 4 Art and started selling the Julie O’ products from a small retail studio, but it soon caught up with me and in 2005 I de-registered the gallery and sold Julie O’.”
After taking some time to heal from her loss, Leah started work again, this time managing a storage company. She then began mentoring artists through a contract with Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ). Not long after, she was back at WINZ, but for a completely different reason.
“I ended up on the benefit,” she says. “It was one of the hardest things I had to do in my life. I was a business woman, but I needed to ask for help. I had great support from a friend who helped pay the mortgage, so we didn’t lose the house, and I spent some time re-evaluating.”
She realised her dream was to open a retail gallery, so she applied for an enterprise allowance grant and with the $11,000 she received, she re-registered An Eye 4 Art and got back into business.
The first few months she ran the gallery from her home with tour buses making up the majority of her clientele. Then Westfield Manukau offered her some permanent space in the mall.
She started with a small shop space, and then moved to a booth before being permanently located in a large shop where the store is currently placed. Her store now stocks works from a number of artists including painters, weavers, sculptors and jewellers.
“I love what I’m doing. We have been here for three years now and I know the presence of who we are is really out there in the community. This space is for emerging artists, from original oneoff pieces to collections anyone can afford.”
“Our prices range from $2 to $1,000,” Leah points out. “Its not just about selling product, it’s about giving someone a piece of someone else’s soul.”
She credits a lot of her success to her supportive family and the dedicated team she has around her.
“Cashflow is my weakness,” she laughs. “When I left school at sixth form I went straight into work at a bank, but I’m terrible with finances these days.”
Where she lacks ability and experience, Leah has utilised others for assistance. She has a business mentor and uses professional accountants to keep the books in order.
She also received assistance from the Te Puni Kökiri’s Mäori Business Facilitation Service.
“I utilised Te Puni Kökiri over five years ago when I needed assistance and guidance to start my first business. Now I’m using them again to help grow this business. There is nothing better than having a system in the government that knows what you’re about and can actually help.”
A painter and all round tutu, Leah says this year she is getting a bit more serious with her own art and will be launching a new line of jewellery, canvas paintings, glass and clothing.
“I want to be an artist who is known when they’re alive, not just when they’re dead. I have been through a lot and made it out the other end. My dream now is to open more stores throughout the country and hopefully one in the US."
aneyeforart.co.nz
