Art Terracina started its life as part of a large storehouse, built to receive goods directly from the ships for storage before they were distributed . The original hoists still form a part of the outer walls. Since then, the entire building was used to house the National Maritime Museum which unfortunately was split into collections. For a long period of time, the storehouse was left empty under ownership of the council. At some point it became possible to individually let each of the stores and our family decided that this unusual location was the perfect spot to create a small, original gallery.
And so work started to transform this derelict storehouse into an Art gallery. All the work, was completed by Cristina and her husband Tony Burke together with friends, including: power-washing the white paint off the walls and floor and in the process exposing the Granite Pillars; building and fitting a doorway (doors taken from the old Jewellers building, which was demolished in the Princesshay development), refurbishing a toilet, creating storage spaces, kitchen for function catering, office, lighting, hanging mechanisms; laying coconut husk flooring (who’s original purpose was underlay used for erosion control).
Once there was some kind of shell, obviously the next task was to fill it and keep it ticking with inspiring artists and their artwork. The brains behind the manic task of trying to organize artists and producing 18 high-quality exhibitions in just under three years of operation is Cristina Burke.
History of ART TERRACINA 2005
Entrance and grain stores
Front
Second Entrance
Old Maritime toilets
Back Wall
Inside (toward front)
Inside (Toward Back)
Old Toilet
Work Starts....shelving
Boat Cafe (opposite 2007)
Gate to boat yard
Dock
Dock
Whole Museum
Back Window
Quay (Terracina)
Wood Beam Ceiling
Granite Pillars
Work underway.....
..........
Kitchen
Doors (From Next)
Coconut Husk flooring
First Hanging
Entrance to exhibition
First mixed exhibition...
....
