Splatter: local makers come to Westfield Belconnen
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In great news for lovers of art, homewares and local makers alike, Westfield Belconnen’s newest resident is an emporium of all of the above—and much more.
Splatter, located on the centre’s top floor, aims to bridge the gap between shopping malls and markets. Helmed by veteran market stall owners Angela Maher and Chris ‘Christopher’ Martin, Splatter’s airy and open interior boasts paintings, ceramics, sculpture, prints, body products, jewellery, furniture, homewares and more.
It’s a carefully curated collection, hand-picked by Angela, who says she’s been looking for the perfect space for some time. But it was about more than just location, because Splatter was never going to be just a shop.
Angela Maher. Credit: Tim Bean Photography.
“Splatter has very much an art hub focus because it’s a shop, a gallery and a studio,” explains Angela. “There’s a beautifully curated retail space, a gallery space that will host exhibitions and a studio that has two parts—a space for classes and a huge 65m2 space out the back where we can do messy studio classes.”
Angela, a career ceramicist and painter, and her illustrator and painter husband Chris (whose work you may know from the couple’s regular stall at the Old Bus Depot Markets under the name ‘Christopher’), have always been passionate about art education for all ages, especially children. But before that, they were selling their crafts at markets after a decade spent overseas.
After a children’s book deal and exhibitions across South East Asia, the USA and China, Angela and Chris decided to refocus on family and Canberra’s local art scene, taking up a regular spot at the Old Bus Depot Markets.
“We’ve been at that market for 22 years, but I’d always harboured the notion of going back to a retail space,” says Angela. But she and Chris weren’t going it alone. Instead, they invited a community of Canberra artists to take the ride with them.
“We’d been looking for a space for about six months and we hadn’t found anything that was right for us,” she says. “Then, I was in a space in Westfield Belconnen when a previous store was closing and I thought, ‘wow, this fit out is just spectacular and it’s perfect for the concept I have in my head’.”
From the original business plan created by Angela and Chris when they first became a company 15 years ago, Splatter has now opened its umbrella space, which hosts a stable of original artists, just in time for Christmas. Designers stocked at Splatter include soft furnishings and furniture designer Tango and James, hand thrown vessels from Red Fox Pottery, ewes milk soap from Aedel Soap in the Southern Highlands, textiles and ceramics from Big Island Australia’s collection of over 25 artists, coffee body scrub from Soul & Ark and laser cut jewellery from CrankyBot as well as ceramics and paintings from Angela and Chris themselves.
From the riotously colourful to the minimalist, Splatter has homewares, jewellery and kids for all tastes. And, to make your Christmas shopping even easier, Splatter will be participating in Westfield Belconnen’s extended trading hours until Christmas Eve, so you have plenty of time to browse. Angela also notes that she is seeking makers and craftspeople to host classes and workshops in the space soon, and encourages interested parties to get in touch via email.
the essentials
What: Splatter
Where: Level 3, near Myer, Westfield Belconnen
When: Extended opening hours ahead of Christmas. See the website for more information.
Website: splatter.biz
Photography: Tim Bean
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