Artist reveals plans for gallery off Maple Street

Gary Myers … “Put a canvas in front of me and I will paint.  I not only want to visualise something, I want to express it on canvas”.  Below: the proposed block off Maple Street.

Renowned Maleny artist Gary Myers has been selling his paintings in Maple Street since the 80s. It’s the same street his grandfather started a business in 1907 and the same street where his father was born. 

Now the Maleny identity wants to strengthen the ties even more.

Gary and his wife Helen Gill have lodged a development application with Council for a shop and public art gallery on an empty block at 72A Maple Street.

The development fulfils an eight year dream to construct a purpose built gallery.  

Being in his space will keep him in touch with a responsive public and, unlike many artists, he is comfortable being observed while he paints. The bigger space will also allow him to display more paintings, including larger works, works in progress and some of his private collection.

“There are paintings that I do that are maybe more abstract that I don’t show in galleries,” said Gary. “Things that I do just for myself to keep my enthusiasm up. So people will be able to view these.”

Gary’s family has been in Maleny since the 1900s and the area’s natural scenes remain the inspiration for most of his paintings. 

“My grandfather had a store in the main street from 1907 through to just after WWII. It was down the road where Boxsells is. It was Myers and Waddell, then Myers and Hirst general stores. And they lived where Nagy’s Cafe used to be. That’s actually where Maleny Art Direct is now and coincidentally Maleny Art Direct is my principle outlet.”

One of the most hard working and established painters on the Coast, Gary describes his distinctive style as “impressionism with a bolder than normal palette”.  

“I knew early on that I saw things differently and that’s what I am determined to put on canvas.”

It is a style that has delivered a successful artistic career for nearly 50 years and about 45 solo exhibitions and sees his paintings sell for “from a few hundred up to $20,000”. 

“Every painting I do I try to explore something different,” he said.

“I think I am lucky though — I just like painting. 

“Put a canvas in front of me and I will paint.  I not only want to visualise something, I want to express it on canvas.  It is extremely gratifying for me and fortunately, also appeals to others.”