ARTISTS involved in a group exhibition showcasing artworks from Artmania - a visual arts studio and all-inclusive space in Wangaratta for people of all abilities - took part in an "in-conversation" event during the recent opening of their exhibition at the Wangaratta Art Gallery.
Art as Sanctuary showcases a collection of colourful contemporary works, from bold papier mâché masks and striking paintings, to fabric food sculpture, with 14 of Artmania's 22 resident artists contributing to the vibrant mix which is delighting visitors to the gallery.
Artmania owner and director Shea O'keefe said the exhibition had been a few years in the planning which allowed plenty of time to prepare for the show and curate the collection.
She said when exhibitions are held in their own studio gallery, artists and Artmania staff share the responsibility for all aspects of the show, but this time they relied on the expertise of gallery staff.
"The hardest part was for us was shortlisting which work would be offered for the final curation of the show, because - as I'm sure you can imagine - there has been a diverse selection of exceptional work produced in the last three years in the Artmania studio," she said.
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More than 100 people attended the exhibition opening, including resident artists, family, friends and supporters of the studio, who all enjoyed the 'in-conversation' event featuring studio artists Paul Crush and Bianca Paola, with Shea.
Shea said the conversation was a great chance for the community to hear in depth about the artists and the how the studio operates.
"It was a wonderful opportunity for the artists to have a platform to speak about their process and involvement in a working studio environment," she said.
"Paul and Bianca were understandably nervous about speaking, as anyone would be, however they are both confident in their chosen artforms, so they are able to articulate themselves perfectly on the topics discussed.
"We spoke a lot in the studio about what they may expect - and they were both well prepared and did a fantastic job."
Shea said seeing the artists' sense of pride and achievement at the opening is "the best part of any exhibition" and she said it was especially wonderful to see the strong turnout from the community who came to support the artists and their work.
Wangaratta Art Gallery director Rachel Arndt said the 'in-conversation' was insightful and genuine.
"Both artists spoke to their strong interest in art and also the support that Shea has given them over the years, not only providing a place of ‘sanctuary’ (as the title of the exhibition suggests) for them to create art, but also enabling them to develop their practice in different directions, through different mediums - always challenging them to grow and learn.
"Shea has been very actively working with her artists over many years towards this exhibition and it’s wonderful to see such a strong outcome."
Art as Sanctuary can be seen in Gallery 2 at Wangaratta Art Gallery from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am - 4pm, until September 15.
