Krystal Cutajar, Animals.
A new exhibition by members of Tulgeen Disability Services’ Art in the Garage program will open at Tuggeranong Arts Centre on Saturday 4th August.
Located at Bega in the hinterland, between the beaches and headlands of the Far South Coast and the Great Dividing Range, Art in the Garage has been providing one on one mentorship in a converted garage to artists with disabilities for the past 17 years.
The program’s latest exhibition, ‘Hinterland,’ features works that are full of colour and strength and assert the art and the artists’ right to be included, recognised and applauded within the community, not in its hinterlands.
The artists range in ages from their early twenties to seventy. Some are established and have exhibited with commercial and critical success while others are emerging with their exciting, new, and fresh work.
Miriam Kydd’s vibrant Mexican Dancer has been brought to life in the form of a dress.
One of the artists featured in the exhibition is Miriam Kydd. Miriam, who grew up in Wolumla on an isolated farm, did not discover her talent for painting until age 60. She paints everyday scenes from life with exotic cultures and costumes including social scenes like weddings and ceremonies, and activities like sport and fishing. Miriam’s bright designs, patterns and brilliant colours have been influenced by ballet, national costumes, nature, farms and animals.
Miriam says: “I just love it! I love textiles and patterns. I paint different things. People, animals, dancers in costume. I love bright happy colours. I like to make people happy through my pictures. It’s relaxing and takes your mind off things.”
Jeffrey Young, Picton Trots.
Jeffrey Young also finds the process a happy one. “I like painting country and farm scenes with cows, sheep, horses, tractors and fences. It reminds me of happy times I spent working on farms, helping with animals, mending fences and picking up sticks. It makes me feel good, painting memories, and I enjoy brushwork and working with colour,” he says.
Altogether, the exhibition features 21 artists who create landscapes, abstract expressionist interpretations, portraits, storytelling, and depictions of memories and experiences using watercolours, gouache, acrylics, pastels, pencil and pen on paper and canvas.
‘Hinterland’ will be officially opened with speeches by Elizabeth Lee, ACT Shadow Minister for Disability, Jen Russell, CEO, Tulgeen Disability Services, and Ingeborg Hansen, Megalo Print Studio.
A colourful work by Graham Henkel.
Also opening alongside ‘Hinterland’ is ‘Winged Fables’ by sculptor Rhonda Castle. Castle was the winner of the TAC exhibition prize at Sculpture in the Paddock Yass in 2017. Her works explore birds in myths, traditions and cultures of the world.
‘Hinterland’ and ‘Winged Fables’ open at Tuggeranong Arts Centre at 2 pm on Saturday 4th August. All are welcome.
The exhibitions will continue until Saturday 25 August.
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