Peter Lankas

I moved into studio 7 at NAS, 246 Parry street, Broadmeadow in 2002, after Bob Birch, and resided there, on the ground floor, behind the gallery until March 2017, the year NAS moved to Chinchen Street. My 15 years in this studio space was a precious time of artistic growth, it was a home away from home and precious interaction with Newcastle creatives residing in and visiting the complex. My window faced east under the stairs and Peter Speight often gave me a startle, with chainsaw laugh putting his head in for a chat as he puffed away on his fag, when he visited the Centre. My studio was apparently the old school music room and being so out of the way I could make as much noise on the boombox as I wanted. All hours.

Studio rent was super cheap in those days hence the possibility of such a long tenure. I participated as Nas gallery assistant under Andrew Jackson, director during 2004-5, taking the director position for a year 2006 and continued working as gallery assistant through 2007. With my studio corridor having a back door entry into the gallery, meant I started to spend more time there than the studio.

During my directorship, I was active in curation and assisting with NEAP (HEAP) with John Barnes as my invaluable sidekick and later as gallery director, in 2007. I held a position on the NAS board for a period before my time as gallery director.

Parry street premises had a huge teaching space available in studio 11 on the first floor. I ran weekly art classes, in painting and drawing, which continued when we moved to Chinchen Street. The possibility of a regular venue gave me the chance to develop my teaching practice and continue running gigs like the Thursday night life drawing session, which continues to this day and found its inception at the Ron Hartree Art School.

My teaching connection with NAS finished in 2019.

Since 2000 I have held a solo show at NAS gallery and have participated in countless annual group exhibitions to this day.

I have taken part in various events such as the Mentor/mentee program, as part of the selection committee.

Nas fostered an artistic family which was instrumental in so many creative and personal opportunities. I first met my wife Susan Porteous at the Art Center who had a studio there early 2000s. Pablo Tapia was instrumental in establishing my investigation into the solvent free oil painting process and I wore out a path to his studio in the early part. Mazie Turner who was another painting process explorer and generous in sharing experiences and time in her studio. A big shout out to Ken O’Reagan, who was my studio neighbour in the bottom corridor, always with time to listen and dispense advice.

A huge thank you must be given to Wendy Peacock as the last Parry Street administrator, who was to me the most memorable, always there when needed, selfless and willing to solve anything with a good heart.

Like any family, the NAS crew was at times dysfunctional but will always occupy the sweetest memories of good times in my heart. A huge thank you to all of you that made this place a special and unique universe.