Hamilton's CBD is in the midst of an art gallery bonanza, with several new galleries opening in just the last six months. So what's behind this show of confidence in the visual art market? And which comes first - the gallery or the art buying public? Lynn Freeman talks to three Hamiltonians directly affected - young gallerist Laree Payne from the Weasel Gallery, Wendy Richdale who runs WINTEC's Ramp Gallery and art writer and teacher Dr Carole Shepheard, who's written about the Hamilton resurgence for the next issue of ArtNews.