30 October 2009 - 30 October 2009
Venue: Arts Project Australia
On Friday 4th September 2009, Arts Project Australia was delighted to host a significant symposium, attended by more than sixty invited guests, on the theme of art and intellectual disability and the role of the specialist studio.
Professor Colin Rhodes, Dean of the Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney and internationally recognised expert in the field of outsider art, chaired the symposium and gave an enlightening overview of the nature and purpose of various specialist art studios around the world and an appraisal of the work produced in them. He also spoke of the essential humanity of such work, as a unifying and connecting thread between artists and audiences alike, and underpinning the curatorial premise of the show.
Artsworkers Christina Hayes and Bernadette Trench-Tiedemann chat with artists Adrian Lazzaro and Jodie Noble
Two artists from Arts Project Australia, Jodie Noble and Adrian Lazzaro, engaged in conversation with artsworkers Bernadette Trench-Thiedeman and Christina Hayes to reveal their thoughts on their own art-making and the importance of the studio in their lives. Their presentation provided a rare glimpse into the personal nature art-making process and the impetus behind it.
Panellists (l to R) Tom di Maria, Alex Baker, Colin Rhodes, James McDonald and Rob McHaffie
It was a special treat to have Tom di Maria, Director of Creative Growth (USA) participate in this event and share his insights and experience , particularly into issues related to studio philosophy and practice and new developments in the promotion and marketing of artwork. Dr. Cheryl Daye, founding Director of Arts Project Australia also spoke of the social and historical context around the establishment of the studio and how it has evolved over almost 25 years.
Further discussion and debate was generated by contributions from Dr. Alex Baker, Senior Curator of Contemporary Art at the NGV, contemporary artists Rob McHaffie, and Arts Project Australia artsworker, James McDonald.
Stimulating and rich in ideas, all participants raised questions pertinent to furthering our understanding of the art and its place within the wider cultural framework.
Download the published essay here.
