Podcast Summary
Disability Arts Advocacy: The 50 Birds exhibition, a collaboration between Arts Project Australia and Arts at Victoria, celebrates 100 years of disability arts advocacy and showcases the talents and perspectives of artists with disabilities, continuing the legacy of increased representation and recognition.
The 50 Birds exhibition, a collaboration between Arts Project Australia and Arts at Victoria, celebrates the combined 100 years of disability arts advocacy. The exhibition, inspired by the affinity of one of the artists, Rosie O'Brien, with nature and birds, invites 14 artists from both organizations to create works in response. Rosie's curatorial statement, "I love nature because I'm a flower myself," encapsulates the sensitivity and deep contemplation that underpins the exhibition. Throughout its history, disability arts have made significant strides, including increased representation and recognition, and the 50 Birds exhibition continues this legacy by showcasing the talents and perspectives of artists with disabilities.
Arts & Fashion Collaboration: Local artists collaborated with fashion brand Gorman in 2021, resulting in a fashion line being released and showcased in galleries. This marks a significant achievement in the Australian arts scene and highlights the potential for further collaborations in the future.
The Australian arts scene has seen significant achievements over the past 50 years, with numerous milestones reached by local artists both nationally and internationally. A notable collaboration took place in 2021 between local artists and fashion brand Gorman, resulting in a wide range of fashion being released and showcased in galleries. As for the upcoming bird-themed exhibition, the speakers jokingly identified themselves as various bird species. Looking ahead, Liz, who is new to her role, sees disabled arts advocacy advancing by continuing to celebrate and showcase the work of artists with disabilities, encouraging more collaboration and representation in the industry.
Advocacy for neurodivergent artists in Australia: Advocacy goes beyond showcasing work in inclusive spaces, it's about fostering opportunities for neurodivergent artists to exhibit at the highest levels of contemporary art and breaking down 'othering' in these spaces
Advocacy in the context of Australia's Arts Projects for neurodivergent artists with intellectual disabilities goes beyond just advocating for their work to be seen in access and inclusion spaces. Instead, it's about fostering opportunities for these artists to exhibit at the highest levels of contemporary art, breaking down the "othering" that can occur in these spaces, and ensuring they are not relegated to community spaces or unique opportunities within the existing art scene. The role of organizations like Arts Project Australia is to facilitate greater visibility for these artists and strengthen their opportunities to be seen as contemporary artists, not just artists with disabilities. The artists themselves make great art and have a clear identity, and the advocacy work lies in providing them with the platforms and opportunities to showcase their work at the forefront of contemporary art.
Challenging assumptions in art: Art's value lies not only in traditional assessments but also in questioning and broadening perspectives, allowing for underrepresented voices to be heard and unique artistic expressions to emerge.
Importance of challenging assumptions and broadening perspectives in the art world. Sophie O'Brien emphasizes the need to question deeply ingrained ways of assessing art and artists, as well as opening doors for underrepresented voices. Her own work, which features unique versions of birds, reflects this approach to creativity and originality. The upcoming exhibition, "50 birds," at Arts Projects Australia's Gallery, is an opportunity to explore these ideas further and engage with the art of diverse artists. The exhibition runs from August 31 to October 5, and all are welcome to attend the opening on August 31 at 3 p.m.
Arts Project Australia Exhibition: Rosie curates an expansive, imaginative exhibition with various mediums at Arts Project Australia, aligning with the organization's creative spirit. Celebrating 50/100 years, Liz gathers artists, staff, and team for a warm community event.
Rosie, the curator at Arts Project Australia, is creating an expansive and imaginative exhibition with a diverse range of mediums, including ceramics, mulch share, embroidery, and textiles. This intuitive approach aligns with the broad and creative spirit of Arts Project Australia. During the 50th/100th anniversary celebration on August 31st, Liz, the Executive Director, will be gathering the artists, staff, and team to celebrate everyone's achievements. Arts Project Australia is a warm and welcoming community, and being a part of it is truly a wonderful experience.