Arts Access Victoria and Artstop Open Studio recently worked together facilitating workshops and performing at the Emerald Hill Festival on Sunday November 15 

 

 

"Art with no boundaries", Fusion Art Studio in the Leader Newspaper!

Pictured (right) is Abdi Rahman, Fusion Arts Studio artist, holding his artwork with Travis Heinrich, WE... Exhibition curator. Fusion Arts Studio artist, Julio Malaspina, is quoted in the article as saying, "The mind can achieve what it can conceive" and "If someone buys it [his artwork titled Do You Know Me] they take me with it".
At the exhibition both Abdi and Julio sold an original artwork, congratulations to them both and to all of Fusion Arts Studio!

"We: A Place to Explore Art, Disability and Inclusion" with Fusion Art Studio

City of Banyule, in partnership with Arts Access Victoria's SRS Studios Program, Araluen and Jets Studios, proudly presents "We: A Place to Explore Art, Disability and Inclusion" exhibition at Hatch Contemporary Arts Space.

The exhibition will feature the work of artists of Fusion Arts Studio and be the first public showing of their work. 

Exhibition Dates: 4th August - 30th August 2015
Location: Hatch Contemporary Arts Space, 14 Ivanhoe Pde, Ivanhoe, VIC
Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm
Free Entry

From the Archives - Western Lodge SRS Studio

Did you know?! Arts Access Victoria's partnerships with Supported Residential Services (SRS) began back in 2002 at Western Lodge SRS and continued through to 2007. Here are some photos that show the scope of the work produced during that time.

The Reservoir Dogs Project at Darebin True North Festival

Thanks to the generous support of Darebin City Council through the Community Support Grant, Edwards Lodge and NorthernTerrace SRS Studios were able to come together to form The Reservoir Dogs Project.
 The Reservoir Dogs Project members and Arts Access Victoria's Nebula arrived at the Darebin Arts & Entertainment Centre to be part of the Darebin True North Festival suite of exciting events.
 Click here to find out more about the Darebin true North Festival.
Here is a film that shows the Life Drawing workshops run by Reservoir Dogs, utilising the Living Statues Garden Party performers as our models. It was a fabulous project with the whole community having a go at drawing, along side the Reservoir Dogs!

Here are some fabulous photographs from the day, by Paul Dunn.

INVITATION Connecting to Country launch at Whittlesea Community Festival

Please join us at the launch of this exciting project!

Connecting to Country is a community engagement project, aimed to strengthen connection to place for some of the most disadvantaged members of our community. Queens Lodge SRS Studio was established in 2013 to promote access to a range of industry level artistic opportunities for people living in SRS’. This exciting project aims to strengthen connections and partnerships between the arts, disability and environmental sectors, and in doing so, improve well-being and community capacity within the City of Whittlesea.

Connecting to Country is an artistic exploration of local Indigenous culture and environment through experiences and connections made with local Indigenous and environmental experts, including Wurrundjeri Elder, Ian Hunter, Darebin Creek Management Committee and Darebin Parklands’ Artist in Residence, Katie Roberts.

At the City of Whittlesea Community Festival, on March 15^th 2015, we will employ Nebula, Arts Access Victoria’s fully accessible mobile art space, to launch the “Connecting to Country” publication of artworks that respond to local Indigenous flora, fauna, history and culture.  We will also showcase an exhibition of original artworks in. Darebin Parklands Artist in Residence, Katie Roberts and Wurrundjeri Elder, Ian Hunter has also contributed to this project.

Connecting to Country is generously supported by the City of Whittlesea Council’s Community Development Grant 2014-5. 

Artstop the feature story on Arts Victoria website

"Jim* had been living in supported residential accommodation for a number of years.
Supported Residential Services (SRS) provide accommodation to people who experience significant psychological, intellectual and physical disabilities.

The residents of these services are often extremely vulnerable individuals for whom previous re-engagement with communities has been highly problematic. Many are also at risk of homelessness.

Jim had an instinct for art. He was a regular participant in the visual arts programs offered by Arts Access Victoria at the SRS – though those opportunities were sometimes limited..."

Read More...

A short film by Fusion Arts Studio

This film was produced through nine weeks at Jets Studio in 2014, where the group developed new skills in multi-media.
This project was generously supported by Banyule City Council through the 2014 Community Development Grant.

Poetry by Fusion Arts Studio artists, exploring "Self"

TRUNG

I am me ……..

Middle. Trung

Eggs that are boiled

Noodle sour, instant

Table tennis with Sam

A bookshop with Saigon

I read romantic novels in the shop

Fast Melbourne trains I ride

KATE

I am me…………….

Fashionable colorful

Bright

Aware nice holy

Obedient

Scared depressed

Active busy

Sociable fit

Cultured

Tasteful outgoing

I go to the theatre

Movies restaurants

Roadtripping

Friendly wordly

Adventurer

Good Appetite

GEOFF

The other knee…….

I’ve got the other knee

So you can leave this one alone

-         That’s how I feel sometimes

People can leave me alone

This morning I awoke early

Felt crappy, really tired

Still a bit tired –

Wasn’t gonna come at all

First time I been here

Different sounds

Yeah, yeah sounds

The filming – that was good

I love playing the free bingo

At crown casino

It’s fun

If you’ve got a phone

You put that on vibrate – or silent

Don’t know what I’ll do this afternoon

Let’s wait until tea time.

No tea for me now

I don’t drink tea or coffee, just water

ABDI

I am me…….

Yes flower

All

Yes red

Somali

Drums

Listen to music everyday

Elephant Moroudi

Somali Nico

BRENDON

I am me…….

…….Oh of the things both my best

worst enigmated for me to share

are I are centred.

I am centred,

I am following stuff

As long as I’m tempted to control there

I eat everything

It might as well sit in me

Because I don’t put on weight

Are thankful you are willing to listen

To my opinions and ideas love cards

Eight, footy tips six correct

When others have four;

Twenty three rounds

Are what two things occupy my thought

Jack are we getting the

Chocolates cards numbers story

Melton Learning and Library Hub exhibition of text based work

Melton Learning and Library Hub exhibition of text based work 

(5 November – 30 November 2014)

There was a development of text based work and interest in producing art and written material for the Melton Library.

Highlights from the ‘Meadowbrook Ink’ group:

• Liana Pickup included her poem about her father
• Leonie Heinjus, created two artists books – one for her Mother and a text based work for her Father.   She also developed ‘Leonie’s artist font’ and this artistic alphabet was used by Joan Wilcox to explain her dioramas.
• Noel Solliffe finished his book on Medicine
• Ivy Marian included a poem about her experience in rehab
• Hugh Ennor created a print that was a homage to his dog

On 5th November 2014 there was a soft launch of the Melton Visitor Information Centre Exhibition  and Melton Library Exhibition for text based work. Councillor Bob Turner personally congratulated all participants and Melton City Council Arts and Culture and Economic Development and Tourism representatives were also present to recognise the SRS resident's art and written works. 
  
Liana Pickup spontaneously recited her poem in the library about her father in the Melton Learning and Library Hub as part of this soft launch of the displays and exhibitions.

Leonie Heinjus and Liana Pickup reciting a poem at Melton Learning and Library Hub
( Photo credit:Paul Dunn)

Hugh Ennor's print of his dog at Melton Learning and Library Hub
( Photo credit:Paul Dunn) 

Melton Learning and Library cabinet with text based works
( Photo credit:Paul Dunn) 

There was a small catalogue created for the Melton Library exhibition to enable cross promotion between the two venues. 

Melton Visitor Information Centre Exhibition

Melton Visitor Information Centre Exhibition 

(30 October – 11 November 2014) 

Rod Austin and his drawings of 'Home' at Melton Visitor Information Centre ( Photo credit:Paul Dunn) 

Installation view of exhibition at Melton Visitor Information Centre ( 30 October- 11 November 2014)
(photo credit: Natalya Garden-Thompson)

Group exhibition at Melton Visitor Information Centre by artists who are involved with Melton Willows and Meadowbrook SRS Pop-Up Studios.

Artstop Open Day - 4th December, 10am-4pm

Artstop Artist, John Holmes. Photo credit: Paul Dunn.

Artstop

Open Day

· DISABILITY · CREATIVITY · COMMUNITY ·

Arts Access Victoria, in partnership with The Olive Way Drop-In Centre and Moreland City Council, invites you to visit Artstop SRS Open Studio for an Open Day.
Open Day offers visitors artist talks, workshops, an exhibition and live performances.

This is a FREE event. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

WHEN:               Thursday 4^th December 2014

TIME:                  10am – 4pm

WHERE:             The Olive way Drop-In Centre, Brunswick Uniting Church, 212 Sydney Road, Brunswick

MORE INFO:      Please contact Aliey Ball, on (03) 8640 6009

or email aball@artsaccess.com.au

http://srs-studios.blogspot.com.au/p/artstop.html

BOOKINGS:       No booking required.

Arts Access Victoria acknowledges the support of Arts Victoria, Australia Council for the Arts, Moreland City Council and the Victorian Department of Human Services and Department of Health.

                      

                                                                                                                             

Awarded! The Whittlesea City Council Community Development Grant 2014-2015

Thanks to generous funding from Whittlesea City Council, through the Community Development Grant, Queens Lodge SRS Studio will partake in an exciting new project called "Connecting to Country".

Artwork by Queens Lodge participants 

The scenic Darebin Creek is located close to Queens Lodge and will become the muse for the group through out this project. The artists will meet with Wurrundjeri Elder, Ian Hunter, and Darebin Creek Management Committee, from whom they will learn about local flora, fauna and indigenous history. 
Nature studies created by the group will be made into a publication. 

Nebula

Original artworks will be exhibited and the publication will be launched at Nebula, Arts Access Victoria's fully accessible mobile art space, at the Whittlesea Community Festival in March 2015.

Royal Avenue SRS Studio

Here's a little film of fun times and creativity had at Royal Avenue SRS Studio. Special thanks to Lea Czikowski for the photos and videos used to create this. 

Feature Artworks by David Smyth, Northern Terrace SRS Studio

David has been participant of Northern Terrace SRS Studio since 2012. David’s charcoal illustrations and delicate water colour paintings have shown at the Skin Gallery Summer Group Show 2013-14, which was officially opened by the Hr Cr Heidi Victoria. David’s work is in private collections across Victoria. 

The to works shown below are currently on show at the ACCESS ALL AREAS exhibition at The Sandpit gallery space in St Kilda.

Elephant 2013 by David Smyth, charcoal on paper A4 size.

Monkey 2013 by David Smyth, charcoal on paper A4 size

ACCESS ALL AREAS Exhibition @ The Sandpit Gallery, St Kilda

 Arts Access Victoria invites you to this exciting group exhibition. Come meet the artists, including Artstop SRS Studio artists, Giovanni Dimase and Stefano Conti.

Reservoir Dogs Project - Awarded the Darebin Community Support Grant 2014 - 2015

We are pleased to announce that Arts Access Victoria's application to Darebin City Council's Community Support Grant was successful. The grant will support The Reservoir Dogs Project  - a proposed Reservoir venue - a studio, gallery and shop, for local  artists with disability / mental illness; a hub of creativity for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in our society, a safe place, an empowering place, a place of belonging and of employment. 

The Reservoir Dogs Project will provide a safe, dedicated art space for local artists with disability and a venue to create, show case and sell their work, in doing so, creating professional pathways, supporting community capacity building and contributing to the rich cultural fabric of Darebin. The project will provide pathways to employment, community engagement and opportunities for meaningful social inclusion.  

BOLT a short animation by Sydenham Grace SRS Studio

BOLT is a short animation work by Sydenham Grace SRS Studio. This work maps the creation and sounds of an ad hock musical instrument made using found objects. 

Richard Phelan's Solo exhibition at Skin Gallery

Richard Phelan and Aliey Ball (Skin Gallery Curator) at the launch of his solo exhibition at Skin Gallery

Life got me down.

Dark times for many years.

Then ART ! I began to draw.

Colour and creation .

Challenge and reward.

I fell in love --- with art .

and now (after a scratchy start )

it is a life joy .

The other world you see on 

paper is the reflection of the

inner artist, who is also my inner child.

Art has brought grace to my life by

revealing hidden dimensions of the true self .

These dimensions are as essential to me

as the outer world and all its people and

allows me to see what is really going on inside .

I ask you, in the moment , to consider your 

own reality even as you contemplate these

works from "the other side " of my being .

RICHARD

Richard Phelan is a participant of the Artstop21 Open Studio, a weekly Arts Access Victoria and The Olive Way arts initiative located in Brunswick. This exhibition will be the inaugural public display of Richard’s work.

Richard Phelan and SRS Studios Support Artist Celeste Abell

Richard Phelan and SRS Studios Support Artist Celeste Abell

SRS Studios Lead Artist Elise McLeary and Richard Phelan 

Richard Phelan with his beautifully surreal work "Counting Clouds Before Sleep 2012"

Skin Gallery Summer Group Show - Hon. Heidi Victoria, Minister for the Arts

Arts Access Victoria was enormously proud that the following SRS Studios participating artist's works were selected for the curated Skin Gallery Summer Group Show, which was opened by the Hon. Heidi Victoria, Minister for the Arts:

• Rebecca Bish
• Stefano Conti
• Nita Trevor
• David Smyth
• Vanessa (Kane) Manning
• Troy Lewthwaite
• Valma Lewthwaite
• JP (John) Penna
• Catherine Lim
• Glenn Court
• Theo Psathas
• Jim (Dimittrious) Mouhtsis

Hon. Heidi Victoria, Minister for the Arts with SRS Studios participating artist Stefano Conti and his work.

The Hon. Heidi Victoria, Minister for the Arts giving an opening speech for the Skin Gallery Summer Group Show

SRS Studio participating artists at the launch of the Skin Gallery Summer Group Show: (from left to right) David Smyth, JP (John) Penna, Jim Mouhtsis, Lead Artist Rachael Walker, Aliey Ball and Valma Lewthwaite.

Artworks by JP (John) Penna, David Smyth, Vanessa (Kane) Manning and Glenn Court