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Buyers, Sellers and Dealers: A Visual Exploration of Garage Sales

23rd January, 2010

Photographer and Lecturer at the South Australian School of Art, Architecture and Design Toby Richardson and local designers Anthony De Leo and Scott Carslake of Voice have teamed up again to produce a publication that promises to get people talking.

The latest in their ensemble of collaborative projects is a book and accompanying exhibition entitled Buyers, Sellers and Dealers that documents the rich tapestry of human life known as the garage sale.

The culmination of two years work, their book exposes the unique subculture associated with garage sales. Shot from the hip, with a buyer's perspective it cleverly incorporates the confessions of garage sale enthusiasts, revealing a powerful insight into this phenomenon. Their exploration goes far beyond simply documenting the transaction of buying and selling objects, it uncovers
the customs associated with a garage sale.

Toby recalls a young woman who remarked ‘I'm addicted just ask my mum' and points out this attitude is common and accounts for their choice of title. ‘We wanted to classify social behaviour into the three most common typologies found at garage sales, Buyers, Sellers and Dealers'. Not wanting to be misunderstood Anthony adds ‘People who frequent garage sales are often tragics not addicts'.

Not the first time these two have collaborated, many will remember Toby's recent impressive series Singles, Couples and Queens, a collection of large scale photographs of discarded mattresses and the accompanying publication which went on to win several significant national and international awards. Most notably they were the only Australians to be awarded a prestigious Gold Pencil at the One Show Design Awards, New York in 2009 for best Book Design. Again Buyers, Sellers and Dealers reveal's their intimate knowledge of the social geography of suburban Adelaide and much like their previous work, stories and photographs from garage sales are coupled to their place of origin, with a suburb and postcode.

Toby admits they too have become ‘garage
sale tragics', ‘we couldn't resist buying stuff and consequently our sheds are crammed with a variety of antiques, electrical appliances and sporting goods'. So to coincide with their book launch they will host their own garage sale with all profits donated to The Salvation Army. There will be a sausage sizzle and free face painting for the kids, so if you're not doing anything on Saturday 6 February follow the signs to Gallery 139 where you're sure to find a bargain.

A limited edition the book and framed images will be on sale in Gallery 139, with the exhibition running until Saturday 20 February.

Publication Launch
Saturday 6 February 2010,
2:00 pm and concludes
Saturday 20 February 2010.

Location
Gallery 139
139 Magill Road, Stepney

Opening Speaker
Matthew Remphrey,
Principal and Creative Director
of Parallax Design

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