Writer Kim Meredith and musician-sound designer Kingsley Spargo have created something unique in Auckland's art scene by converting their home into the Kim Meredith Gallery two years ago. Located at 247 Symonds Street in central Auckland, their 1925-built shop seamlessly transitions between functioning as an art gallery and a family living room, representing a quiet but growing global trend where private residences become creative spaces.
The gallery's journey began under challenging circumstances when Meredith's father passed away on February 28, 2023, the same day building materials arrived for their renovation project. "I sat at the end of his bed, his body still warm, utterly bereft but also complaining about his timing, and did he realize there was a truckload of timber sitting out the front of our place on Upper Symonds Street?" Meredith recalled.
Visitors often experience a moment of confusion and wonder when they realize they've entered both a gallery and someone's home. The couple draws from their creative community to program shows, maintaining close connections within one degree of separation. During opening events, the space attracts passersby, including unexpected visitors like a man in his late 30s who once entered holding a small ham and requesting a knife. Meredith remembered slicing it up, providing bread, and watching him eat before escorting him outside, recognizing his hunger for human connection.
The gallery launched in May 2023 with "Remind Me Tomorrow," a debut exhibition by renowned artist Janet Lilo that explored the contrast between analog and digital technology. Lilo also generously designed the gallery's branding, though Meredith discovered their sandwich board sign was nearly the size of a child's playhouse when she arrived at the factory. The oversized sign proved beneficial during Auckland's frequent storms, remaining completely stable.
Meredith and Spargo took a hands-on approach to creating their space, with Spargo handling most of the physical work. He sanded and varnished Kauri floorboards, painted walls and ceilings, built false walls over existing brick walls, and designed the lighting system, though professional electrician Karl Guttenbeil handled the electrical installation. The renovation process created unprecedented amounts of dust throughout their living space.
Living in the gallery has brought unexpected experiences, particularly with the blinds open to Symonds Street where the world passes by. Meredith noted feeling both flattered and annoyed when their neighbor shows prospective tenants around, pointing to their renovation work as an example of the space's potential, essentially benefiting from Spargo's hard work and ideas.
The gallery operates four days a week, Wednesday through Saturday, programming six exhibitions annually. During the six to eight weeks that artwork hangs in what becomes their living room each evening, the couple develops deep connections with the pieces. "The morning and afternoon light changes how you view the pieces, often what you initially noticed recedes – the work slowly reveals itself to you," Meredith explained. This intimate exposure builds respect and appreciation for the artists, though it also creates temptation to purchase works that their bank balance cannot accommodate.
Working with artists presents both inspiration and challenges. Meredith humorously noted that on tough weeks, she might add artists to the list of those you should never work with alongside children and animals, describing them as "utterly brilliant and inspiring, but the lead-up to a show is not for the faint-hearted." The process resembles "a heart-stopping ride at Rainbows End" as artists navigate the ever-shifting landscape of their creative ideas.
Despite the challenges, the transformative moment when everything comes together makes the effort worthwhile. When artists arrive with their completed work, treating it "like they're holding a newborn," and Spargo prepares for installation, the space truly comes alive. As Janet Lilo remarked at their inaugural show, "I wouldn't have made those pieces if you hadn't created this space."
The Kim Meredith Gallery has successfully built a community around their unique home-gallery concept, connecting people through exhibitions, artist talks, and performances. They offer each other "whanaungatanga" (kinship), inspiration, and solace while sharing the profound calling to observe the world, make sense of it, and create meaningful work. The space serves as a reminder of how fleeting and precious life is, fulfilling their original decade-long vision of building an artistic community that bridges the gap between private life and public creative expression.
