In early 2005, two Greenwich artists, Gulcin Seven and the ex-Lord Mayor John May, remarked on the amazing number of artists active in the suburb and decided to canvas them about putting on a group exhibition. John approached friends while Gulcin broached the subject with customers in her newsagency.
Later that year, ten artists, Lyn Burns, Amanda Harrison, Pamela Irving, Magie Maule, John May, MaryAnne Parry, Susan Rothwell, Gulcin Seven, Kaan Seven and Louella Woodham, lugged their artworks, easels, screens, lights, and plinths up the stairs of the local sailing club to set up the inaugural Greenwich Art Show. The opening night on 7 October 2005 was a huge success with friends, relatives and local residents filling the spectacular top floor of the Greenwich Sailing Club - the harbour sparkled from all sides of the room and the artists sparkled inside, enjoying the unique opportunity to showcase their work.
Another two shows, in 2007 and 2010, saw the group grow to fourteen artists, by which time space in the hired room was becoming tight. Combined with onerous logistics and the physical difficulties of manhandling the screens, plinths and lights up two flights of stairs, let alone all the artworks, it was time for a re-think.
At the traditional post-show de-brief, Dana Dion suggested changing the format to an open studio trail, much like similar events in Pittwater and Willoughby council areas. Under this regime, artists would be responsible for their own administration and presentation, without the space and light restrictions, or the need for transporting artworks. There was unanimous and enthusiastic agreement.
So Dana Dion and Amanda Harrison took up the reigns to corral a diverse collection of artists into a show spread across various sites around Greenwich. Most of the Greenwich Village Art Trail’s (GVAT) guidelines were established at this stage, including for it to be walking friendly, without the need for a car, and this meant a strict adherence to the Greenwich suburb boundary line (plus a council-sponsored bus in later years).
Another of the guiding principles was around art education - that the Trail provide an opportunity for visitors to explore the back room, see where art is made, and learn about the processes behind the creations that artists bring to life in their studios. And strict presentation requirements were set down to ensure the best possible visitor experience, including that the artwork be presented as professionally as possible, with no seconds, and all studios be open for the days and hours specified in the advertising.
On the weekend of 8 & 9 October 2012, fourteen artists tentatively opened their doors at ten different sites - Lyn Burns, Dana Dion, Amanda Harrison, Cathy Jager, Melissa McElhone, John May, Kerin Moorehead, MaryAnne Parry, Sally Rossi-Ford, Susan Rothwell, Gulcin Seven, Petrina Slaytor, Peter Staveley, and Louella Woodham. The Trail attracted over 250 visitors from the local area and proved to be a wonderful community event - and a big success for the artists.
The GVAT has now grown to attract over 900 art-loving visitors from all over Sydney - and beyond. Set as the first weekend of November, the streets of the beautiful harbourside suburb fill with art-lovers who meet with friends, walk in groups, and view art in over 30 sites, speaking with the artists, learning about the creative processes, and purchasing fabulous artworks to take home to enrich their homes and lives.