Five Questions is where I talk to bloggers about their projects and some of the other things they are doing. I ask {Q}uestions, and hopefully get some {A}nswers!

{Q} A project like WATIM must require a considerable amount of your time and energy, what do you get back out of it?

{A} Yeah WATIM does take up a chunk of my time, but I’m lucky enough to have a job that’s not too hectic, so I can run WATIM during my work hours while I’m getting paid. Sure sometimes WATIM has to be put aside so I can concentrate on my art and design work, but that’s all good.

As far as what I get back out of it all… I get a few things, I get to meet and network with extremely good Australian artists, I gain personal experience in publishing, marketing and all other aspects of the arts/design/media industry, and lastly I get satisfaction knowing that I’m doing my bit to help boost the emerging Australian creative scene… which I am a part of anyway!

{Q} You’ve just redesigned the WATIM website, what’s new or changed?

{A} Not too much has changed with the new site, I made the news/blog section both more user and reader friendly and re-scripted the site with the help of my friend Adrian at abepe design, so it’s now a lot easier for us to update, which means we’ll be updating the content more often.

We’re also going to be launching the WATIM online store soon, from which we will be selling selected products made by Australian artists, such as books, magazines, prints, clothing and other random stuff.

{Q} You recently staged the 12×12 exhibition, how was that?

{A} The 12X12 exhibition went really well, which is why we are going to be doing the 12X12 group show concept again in 2008 with a different line-up of Aussie artists. aMBUSH gallery got packed out on the opening night, and we sold about half of the 144 canvases that were in the exhibition.

There are still some artworks available for purchase, including works by Ant Keogh, Creepy, Dyzla, Eamo, Numskull, Reka, Trent Whitehead and Yok. Information about purchasing 12X12 artworks is on the website.

{Q} What other events are planned, or in the pipeline for the future?

{A} After doing 12X12 and redesigning the website, we’re having a little bit of a break for the next couple of months. WATIM is a major media sponsor of the upcoming “overgrowth” exhibition that Creepy is putting on in Perth on 7 December 2007.

We’re also helping put on a group show in Melbourne in early 2008, and then doing the 12X12 exhibition again in May/June 2008.

{Q} You obviously see a lot of Australian art and photography, what’s your appraisal of the local art scene?

{A} Yeah we get a lot of submissions from all over the country, there definitely seems to be a strong scene building up in Brisbane at the moment, but Sydney and Melbourne still appear to provide homes for the majority of Australia’s most talented artists.

There are a lot more exhibitions happening lately as well, and more galleries seem to be appearing in all cities. The local art scene is booming right now… and I think the internet has been the main reason for this, making it so much easier to get your work seen, and network with other artists, galleries and publications.

I like to think that WATIM is helping to bring together the amazing creative talent we have in Australia, and encouraging Australian artists get involved and support local exhibitions, events, projects and most of all… each other.

Thanks Brad!