Thirty-five artists feature in ca Gallery’s 25th anniversary exhibition ‘25’ in Coolum
Exhibition dates: 15 May – 12 June, 2023
Opening event: Saturday 20th May, 4-6pm
This May, Cool Art Picture Framing and Gallery will be celebrating 25 years in business. To commemorate this special milestone the gallery will be hosting an exciting group exhibition featuring some of the artists that have joined ‘Cool Art’ on this journey.
Cool Art Picture Framing was established by Joe “Cool” McFeeters in 1998 on Beach Road, Coolum. At that time Joe was a young entrepreneur, opening his first business by the beach in Coolum. He initially chose Coolum as potential location for his first business when passing through on holidays a couple of years beforehand. Joe described Coolum in the ‘90s as having ‘a small country town feel by the sea’. Originally from Tenterfield, northern NSW, Joe completed a 4 year picture framing apprenticeship in 1996, and had worked in both Toowoomba and Brisbane in small custom settings, as well as large scale production during before making the move to the Sunshine Coast.
The shop at 5 Beach Road was initially set up with picture framing design, consultation and manufacture along the right side of the building, using the left hand side as a gallery and gift store. Local artists quickly became friends and mentors, with gallery artists Blair McNamara, Pam Walpole, and Jan Williamson having been loyal supporters and subsequently represented artists since the early years. They have provided mentorship to Joe with respect to art appreciation, exhibition installation and curation. Some of the earliest ‘Cool Art’ exhibiting artists included Blair McNamara, Tony Coles, Pam Walpole, Jan Williamson, Des Rolph, Nick Olsen, Starr, Colin Passmore and Yvonne Mills-Stanley. And many more!
