Painting it black at Miharo

WET PAINT: Miharo gallery co-founders Rosie Cruddas (left) and Hera Clifton will auction works created by a range of artists for the gallery's inaugural Wet Paint challenge.Picture by Paul Rickard

With its turn-over of works by an eclectic range of artists, central city location and high traffic flow, the Miharo gallery is all about freshness — and nothing gets fresher than wet paint.

Wet Paint is the name of a new concept to come out of Miharo in which artists are asked to produce a work based on a given theme in a short period of time.

The concept encourages artists to step outside of their comfort zone and to explore and try out new things.

“Since opening the gallery we have been a bit stagnant with our own work,” says Rosie Cruddas who with artist Hera Clifton co-founded Miharo alongside

“We say to ourselves ‘how do we do abstract work?'. It's hard to break out of your style.

“We saw a challenge for other artists to break out of their style.”

For the inaugural Wet Paint challenge, Cruddas and Clifton have set the theme as ‘paint it black', the title of the Rolling Stones' song about depression or a dark night of the soul.

The phrase and song is open to interpretation, says Cruddas.

“We have challenged artists to listen to the song and produce a work inspired by it within an hour.”

Any media is eligible.

“It doesn't have to be on paper just as long as the work is created within an hour and fits the theme. It's not about making a masterpiece but trying something you might not have tried before.”

The work also needs to be “exhibition-ready” in time for tomorrow night's auction of the works.

From each sale, 20 percent will go towards the next Wet Paint project.

The artist whose entry sells for the highest price will receive a prize and will get to choose the song that will be the theme of the next Wet Paint project.

Wet paint – the “paint it black” challenge auction, Miharo gallery, 118 Gladstone Road, tomorrow at 7pm. Dress code – black.