Cityscape Christmas 2019

COMMUNITY
MEET THE LOCAL
Rust never sleeps and neither it
seems does ‘rust artist’ Don
Service, who has added gallery
owner to his impressive CV. He
tells Cityscape how RightSide
Gallery came to be, how his own
art has evolved, and how he
relaxes when he finds the time.
You are something of a jack-ofall-trades
in the art world – how
did that come about? I get asked
to do lots of different things – art
hanging, art repairs and art
technician jobs – that come in
through word of mouth so I usually
say yes then figure it out from
there. I have a varied background
career-wise, which gives me the
confidence to say yes, but art and
design has always been my passion.
Tell us about your new gallery and
the artists represented? I have
wanted a workshop and showroom
for years, it just took a while to bring
it all together. I met the artists at
various shows around the country,
became friends and mentioned I
was opening a gallery and asked
them if they wanted to be involved.
Luckily they all said yes.
‘I LOVE TAKING THE
BOAT OUT TO THE
WAIMAKARIRI OR
RAKAIA RIVERS
WITH FRIENDS’
In your own art you work with rust
– what drew you to that? I love the
colours and textures in rust and the
versatility of steel. I started playing
around with them, people liked the
results, so I submitted some photos
to the first Christchurch Art Show.
It has all just grown from there.
Rust never sleeps – that must
mean your works change over
time? Yes they do change, which I
think is cool, but I coat them with
lacquers or resins, which slows the
rusting process down a lot. I don't
want to sell something that quickly
turns to a pile of dust on the floor,
that would be awkward.
What do you think Christchurch
needs the most? More
entertaining, exciting and fun
things to do. More live music. Tell
us a secret about yourself? I'm a
shit guitar player. What’s your
favourite material possession? My
1971 Hamilton Jet 32, which I rebuilt
a few years ago. I love getting it out
on our rivers and lakes with friends
and family. What are you listening
to/reading/bingewatching at the
moment? Listening to Gary Clark
Jr or Queens of the Stone Age;
reading Adrian Newey, How to
Build a Car; bingewatching
Justified or The Grand Tour.
What’s your favourite movie? Too
many to name but I love a good
war movie – Saving Private Ryan
etc. I’m not so much into romcoms.
Anything coming to
Christchurch that you are
particularly looking forward
to? I always enjoy the SCOPE
Classic at Ruapuna every
summer. How do you relax?
I love taking the boat out to the
Waimakariri or Rakaia rivers with
friends, park up wth a beer and try
and catch a fish – beautiful,
exciting and relaxing. We are very
lucky! Also making things. What’s
the best piece of advice you’ve
been given? It's not what happens
to you, it's what you do about it.
Don't wait, just start – so get off
your arse and make it happen. If
you weren’t doing what you are
now, what would you want to do?
Racing driver, or drummer in a
huge rock band. Unfortunately I’m
not good enough for either but I
can dream about it.
18 CITYSCAPE.CO.NZ Christmas 19