Auto Art in the MediaMedia Article No.1
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Art gallery of a different kind
THE region’s newest art gallery has thrown open its doors in Batemans Bay - but there’s not a painting in sight.
The impressive purpose-built building off Kylie Crescent and overlooking the highway has lots of space and natural light - but no sculptures here.
What it does have is clean lines, and enough metal, engines and chrome to shame the space shuttle.
“It’s more along the lines of a motor vehicle art gallery,” owner and brains behind the new Auto Art Showroom Bob Hughes said.
“That’s the sort of environment I want to work in and the sort of environment I want to display the nice cars in.
“It’s got nothing to do with a car yard. It’s a professional car showroom ... and if you want something special this is where you come.”
The building was designed by renowned architect Ralph Hammill - and brought to life by Nick Minato, managing director of the South Building Company.
“He considers this his signature dish...the attention to detail is quite extraordinary really,” Mr Hughes said.
There are 18 specially hand-picked cars on display - mostly late model BMWs, Mercedes, Audi and a spectacular Porsche.
There is also a sprinkling of 60’s classics, which Mr Hughes has picked up over the years on his travels to the United States.
“I intend on dealing in cars that are a little bit different to what other dealers keep,” he said.
“It’s not a new car franchise obviously, it’s just for selected late model prestige performance type cars.
“Cars that probably are more aimed at the culture where people have worked hard and they want that special car.”
Mr Hughes said it’s great to see business confidence starting to build up in the local economy again after talk of global doom and gloom.
“I don’t think the recession is affecting the place all that much and I feel things are going ahead again now,” he said. And, there is the natural population boom expected along coastal regions, with the baby boomer generation nearing retirement.
“The demographics that I’m looking at are more in that 50 plus age group,” Mr Hughes said.
“Kids are gone, house is paid for, they’ve got a bit of extra money now and they want to get that car that they wished they would have had in their teenage years!”
For those of us who aren’t quite up to that stage - the Auto Art showroom is also open to car enthusiasts and those who just want to dream.
Bay Post 7/8/2009 By SUSAN SMITH