Grainstore Gallery
Monday10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Tuesday10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Wednesday10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Thursday10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Friday10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Saturday10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Sunday10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Climb the stairs at 5 Harbour Street and find yourself in what can only be described as an emporium. Local artist Donna Demente studied art in the big smoke, Auckland, but after twenty-five years, Ōamaru is her home and Grainstore Gallery, her creative world.
While many visitors expect to find a tiny attic here, Grainstore Gallery’s whimsical environment will swallow you right up. It’s huge, for one, but contains within it a host of smaller vignettes, displays and corners to explore. Wander along, and you’ll soon meet Donna’s larger-than-life paper mache sculptures of Queen Victoria and other famous women. Their scale suits the space, and they’re all handmade and painted by the artist herself.
Donna’s paintings and detailed masks also hang throughout the space and reflect her interest in theatre and the power of the ‘gaze’ throughout history. Amidst all of her larger pieces are bits of ephemera that inspire and inform her process; antiques, taxidermy, other artists’ work- a massive collection of found objects. It would take hours to explore it all, but that’s part of this spot’s appeal. Time seems to stop in this magical space.
As Grainstore Gallery also doubles as her functional studio space, Donna is usually around to answer questions, so feel free to strike up a chat. Art nerds will gather that she’s most interested in the work of the pre-Raphaelites, but she also loves to let ‘humour pervade, to investigate everything and to always take the mickey a bit, too.”
Even the building itself has a story here. It was used for grain storage for many years and then was home to the local paper for nearly seven decades. Now it’s the perfect home for Donna’s work, a world all its own and sometimes host to live music gigs, too (check Grainstore’s Facebook page to follow along). Grainstore Gallery is Donna’s ‘collection, salon, studio and museum’ – hard to capture in words or photographs, it’s something you just have to see for yourself.
Words by Olivia Sisson & Photography by Nancy Zhou
Information not correct? Report an error
Location
9 Harbour Street, South Hill, Oamaru
Nearby Places
Crafted
It’s hard not to be inspired by Ōamaru’s rugged coastline and fabled history. The town is home to many talented makers and artists, and at the collective gallery you can explore their work at your own pace.
Cucina
Argentinian, Italian and Spanish flavours meet Kiwi hospitality at Cucina. Owners Yanina and Pablo, moved their family to Ōamaru in 2008, and celebrate the cuisine they grew up with through Waitaki's best ingredients.
Craftwork Brewery
Ōamaru’s Heritage Precinct is an ode to tradition. In this way it only makes sense that it’s home to Craftwork - an award winning, small scale, Belgian brewery run by brewing couple, Lee-Ann Scotti and Michael O’Brien.
The Terraces
Local Kevin Murdoch restored The Terraces building and filled it with historical relics and an art studio. Pop in for a chat with Kevin and the other Ōamaru artist in residence, Al Bell - this is something of an alternative visitors’ centre.
Similar Places
Casa Nova House & Restaurant 1861
Casa Nova House is a perfect example of Ōamaru’s historic architecture turning a new page in its storied history.
Elephant Rocks
For a nice walk, a bit of bouldering or both, head to Elephant Rocks. Sculpted by wind and rain, these funky outcrops give visitors a glimpse of the limestone that make the Waitaki Valley’s terroir so unique.
Crafted
It’s hard not to be inspired by Ōamaru’s rugged coastline and fabled history. The town is home to many talented makers and artists, and at the collective gallery you can explore their work at your own pace.
Steampunk HQ
This epicentre of Steampunk culture comes alive at the Steampunk HQ, where interactive art comes to life in a way that’s fun, antique and futuristic all at once.