Dida's big gallery dream

Bruce and Dida in the main gallery room.

When Dida M'Raiagh finished her degree, the idea of running an art gallery was far-fetched. But on November 25, only two days after she began her role as manager at the Bruce McLachlan Gallery and Studio, she sat on the window seat with a grin from ear to ear.

"There's no going back!"

The bright 22-year-old finished study at the end of last year and began working in graphic design. Now, she works and lives at the gallery with her own section of the 1930s renovated house dedicated to her design and art work.

The front section is a beautifully decorated gallery, which fits perfectly with the renovated home. Looking at the tastefully art-covered walls, it is hard to tell the vastly different pieces are all by the same artist - Bruce.

Dida said her goal is to see the gallery as a hub for the arts and creativity, with hopes to bring in original jewellery items and other handmade crafts from around the Waikato to complement Bruce's art work. The gallery is solely for Bruce's art at this stage, and Dida said she likes it that way as it is his lifelong dream, but she continues to commission work from her own small studio in the back of the house and said the job has offered her the time she needs to work on her own projects.

Originally daunted by the idea of making such a drastic life change - leaving a secure job and moving house - it was the memory of her watercolour artist granny who inspired her
to go all-in and take a potentially risky job managing 'the new kid on the block' gallery.

"She is one of the reasons I decided to do it, because if she was here, she would have said do it! This is the start of everything I have thought about, but never done it. It is still sinking in, I think," she said.

"Every morning I get up and open the doors and I just feel really happy."

The door from the rear of the house to the gallery looks straight to a large window with a seat, the afternoon sun streams in giving the whole main room a yellow glow. Dida is not short of ideas for the gallery, and the two artists make a great team, chatting about ways to promote the work overseas as Bruce's depictions of classic cars are a hit in America.

The gallery is located at 89 Norton Rd. To see more on Bruce McLachlan Gallery and Studio visit www.facebook.com/brucemclachlangalleryandstudio.