Newtown in photographs

If you walk into Gould’s Book Arcade on King St in Newtown, you will be greeted by the smell of old books and the sight of them filling bookshelves as far as the eye can see.

And between the bookshelves people are looking for books that are no longer printed, or just to find that book at a cheap price. And among those folk, one of them may very well be Nic Bezzina, while working on his project documenting the changes of shops in Newtown in photographic form.

“I chose shops that are independent and run by people who are passionate about their shop, and the work they do,” says Mr Bezzina. “I’m interested in craftspeople and shops offering unique, and often quirky products and services.”

The photographed shopkeepers include beloved Newtown bookseller, the late Bob Gould, and popular stylist Daniel Mostyn. After starting the Newtown Shopkeepers project in 2010, the City of Sydney Council announced last week Mr Bezzina’s project would recieve $6,000 to help complete the book.

The grant was forwarded as part of $40,000 worth of City of Sydney community grants. Mr Bezzina also received a grant of $1,750 in 2011 from the Marrickville Council as part of Open Marrickville Grants.

“[To be chosen for the Grant], the projects were assessed against the criteria that included the level of innovation, the benefit to the Marrickville community and/or the artist’s professional development, and how the project reflected life in Marrickville,” says a spokesperson for Marrickville Council.

As part of the project, a gallery exhibition was held in June 2012, and Mr Bezzina is planning to release a book as part of the project in early 2013.

“It has become evident that for the project to truly become the historical document that I envision it to be, another 20 to 30 portraits are necessary,” says Mr Bezzina.

The 28-year-old has lived in Newtown for five years, working as a photographer for the last seven years.