Perth Voice Interactive

A MAYLANDS architect is letting fledgling artists show off their work in his shop window for free.

Patrick Miller, who owns Finespun on Railway Parade, says artists get great exposure in his shopfront as trains crawl out of Maylands station.

He lets artists display for three-month stints and plans to expand the scheme to include installation art, video and sound.

The window has already featured a giant fish by Amok Island and a dribbling portrait of Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke by Sioux Tempestt.

“I am a big fan of art and I thought it would be a great way to showcase emerging artists who maybe haven’t reached the big time yet,” says Miller.

“Maylands is really taking off and I wanted to contribute to its success by supporting the local art scene.”

Originally from Melbourne, Miller has designed several high-profile bars and cafes in Perth, including Mechanics’ Institute Bar, Solomon’s Cafe and Mrs Brown.

“Maylands is really taking off and I wanted to contribute to its success by supporting the local art scene.”

After working out of a garage in his Maylands’ home, he moved into the stylish Railway Parade premises in mid-2012.

“I really felt like Maylands was the place to be and locate my business—there is a real sense that this place is taking off,” he says.

His claims are backed up by the success of several local “hip” businesses, including the Swallow Bar, Mrs S Cafe, the planned million-dollar Lyric Lane music venue on Guildford Road, and The Maylands Markets.

Creative Maylands founder Anne Goodall says the suburb’s diversity makes it exciting.

“I guess it’s that mix of creativity and grit,” she says.

“We have a wide range of people living here and that makes for a creative environment.

“The house prices are slightly more affordable, compared to the inner-city, so that has helped as well.”

by STEPHEN POLLOCK