A Captivating Visual Arts Exhibition by Access Arts
Discover 'My World'
A Captivating Visual Arts Exhibition by Access Arts
25 July – 27 September 2024
St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital
Access Arts is thrilled to announce the return of its visual arts exhibition, ‘My World’ hosted at St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital. Running from Thursday 25 July – Friday 27 September 2024, this year’s showcase represents a bold offering, providing a concentrated glimpse into the featured artists hearts, minds and imaginations.
The exhibition presents a collection of 50 new artworks created by Access Arts studio artists, exploring themes such as surrealist imaginings, adventures in nature, beauty, and awe. Each piece is a unique exploration of personal experiences and memories, inviting viewers on a journey through the artists’ worlds.
Among the highlights is Andrew Pemberton’s ‘New Zealand’, capturing the serene beauty of New Zealand beaches, and Michael Mulvey’s ‘Beach Holiday’, where water-based oils on canvas bring to life the coastal charm of the Gold Coast’s Labrador Beach to life. These artworks invite the audience on a journey that responds to the theme of ‘My World’ which encapsulates the artist cherished holidays and memories.
Other artists have chosen to express their emotional journeys as a glimpse into their world. In ‘Unseen Strength in a Summer Field’, artist Sue Yule depicts herself as a single sunflower standing tall amidst a field of wildflowers.
“The sunflower, with it’s bold yellow hues, represent those living with invisible disabilities, myself included. Despite the challenges that may go unseen, the sunflower thrives, symbolising the unwavering hope and resilience. The surrounding wildflowers represent the beauty and strength found in the community, reminding us that we don’t face these challenges alone.”
– Sue Yule
Further exploring the theme of resilience and hope, Yvonne Denehey ‘s artwork ‘The Bright Side’, reflects on showcasing the ability to withstand life’s seasonal upheavals and find light during dark days, to face each day with deep-rooted strength and intention.
Whether you visit the exhibition in the halls of St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, or explore ‘My World’ online, you’ll have the opportunity to experience these captivating works of the artists. The artworks are available for purchase only until the 27 September, so don’t miss this chance to bring a piece of ‘My World’ into your home or office.
My World
Thursday 25 July - Friday 27 September 2024
St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital
Christmas came early for those who attended Festive Fusion: Access Arts Showcase and afternoon tea, hosted at the prestigious KPMG Brisbane, located on Turrbal and Yaggera land in Meanjin/ Brisbane.
Once again, Access Arts collaborated with KPMG to showcase the talents of its Performing Arts workshop participants through theatre, dance and song pieces centred on the theme: Festive Fusion.
Perfectly aligned to Access Arts’ mission to elevate artists with disability or disadvantage, Festive Fusion embodied a harmonious blend of art and culture. The showcase captivated the audience through its celebration of the diverse voices of talented artists who drew from their unique life experiences and desire to break down barriers and challenge stereotypes.
The announcement of the 2023 Access Arts Achievement Award winner, Donna Lawrence, and highly commended recipient, Isabel Stankiewicz, was a fitting beginning to proceedings. Both artists expressed their gratitude and shared their excitement looking ahead to 2024. Read more about the Access Arts Achievement Award and the 2023 recipients here: Access Arts Achievement Award
As the performers prepared for the showcase, Karina White the Access ArtsTheatre and Dance Ensemble and Skills-Extended workshop facilitator,spoke about how the performance came together, with each participant invited to select a song and explore where the music transported them. The artists built on their skills as they developed for performance pieces from Unite and Otherwise at Undercover Artist Festival.This showcase allowed the participants to uncover new ways of connecting.
Audience members were invited on a fun and festive journey as participants took to the stage to present group or solo theatre and dance pieces to a wide array of music, including Christmas hits, old and new, and hip hop remixes and classics.
The Access Arts singers were up next, with a score designed to ignite the Christmas spirit and showcase their range, and featuring Brooke Austin, who has returned to Access Arts to lead the group after some time away. The songs performed by the group involved solo and duet performances which displayed the group’s range of talent.
To close the showcase, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” got the audience clapping, and the Access Arts Theatre and Dance Ensemble and Skills-Extended groups up dancing and singing along. It was a perfect way to mark the start of the festive season and celebrate the end of an incredible year for all the Access Arts participants, staff and facilitators.
Artwork: Birds of a Feather (Detail) by Brisbane Outsider Artists
An exhibition by Access Arts celebrating the
10-year anniversary of KPMG’s sponsorship of its artists.
24 October — 9 December 2022
Art exhibition
KPMG Brisbane, Riparian Plaza
Access Arts is proud to present Looking Back, Looking Forward – an exhibition which shines a light on talented Queensland artists and starts a conversation about the need for greater recognition of artists with disability.
Created by artists from Access Arts’ Brisbane Outsider Artists’ studio, Looking Back, Looking Forward is kindly supported by KPMG Brisbane, the Lord Mayor’s Community Fund, Lord Mayor Cr Adrian Schrinner and Cr Vicki Howard - Central Ward, and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
This exhibition celebrates the 10th anniversary of KPMG’s sponsorship of Access Arts artists with disability. The theme, Looking Back, Looking Forward was chosen by the artists to highlight their creative evolution over the past decade and symbolises the development oftheir creative practice throughout this time.
Exhibiting artist Kerry Beazleigh said the opportunity to speak about her work publicity at the private viewing last year allowed her to overcome her anxiety.
“The KPMG exhibition gave me a feeling as an artist of being very supported and valued,” Kerry said.
Her piece this year, Reflecting on Life’s Journey, encourages the audience to delve into their own reflection of life.
“In this painting, the symbolism of the mountains hides the uncertainty of what is coming next, while the river represents the twists and turns that life take,” Kerry said.
Fellow artist Lisa Blake said she reflects on this year’s theme in her painting The Stars are Aligning, which focuses on coming from the past and heading towards the future.
“I have used the rainbow pathway in an older artwork and more recently I’ve been painting stars, so it is looking at my older and newer styles of painting,” Lisa said.
The exhibition has provided an opportunity for both artists to explore their futures, reflect on their past and see how far they have come.
“The KPMG partnership has been a good opportunity for me to exhibit and sell work in different mediums and meet the person or organisation who has bought my work” said Lisa.
Looking Back, Looking Forward will be exhibitingat KPMG Brisbane, Riparian Plaza from Monday 24 October until Friday 9 December andwill feature a catalogue of Access Arts and KPMG Brisbane exhibition history, collaborative components and artworks created specifically for Looking Back, Looking Forward. The exhibition features 23 new artworks by18 artists.
St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital | Dancing Colours Exhibition
15 June – 16 September 2022 | Art Exhibition | St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, 457 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill Qld | Turrbal and Jagera Country
Created by artists with disability from Access Arts’ Brisbane Outsider Artists workshops
It was a wonderful night at the official launch of the Dancing Colours Exhibition at St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital on Tuesday 14 June 2022.
The theme, Dancing Colours, has been chosen by the artists as a pathway to explore uplifting and playful imagery with a vibrant colour palette. Artists have drawn on a broad range of subject matter and experiences such as exotic sea creatures, dancing under a disco ball with family, enjoying a festival of flowers and bushwalking in Toohey Forest surrounded by bird life.
Artwork credit: Ghostly Buildings Protruding, by Dion Halse
About Access Arts
Access Arts is Queensland’s acknowledged leader for arts and disability. We create career pathways to paid work, and advocate at every opportunity for our artists to chase their artistic dream. Through art, Access Arts transforms lives.
Created by artists with disability from Access Arts’ Brisbane Outsider Artists workshops
Access Arts is proud to present, Visitors. An exhibition that shines a light on talented Queensland artists and starts a conversation about the need for more recognition for artists with disability.
The theme has been chosen by the artists as a way to come to terms with hopes, fears and desired personal freedoms.
Visitors to the home, visitors to the wide outdoors and visitors that inspire our imagination. Each artist has taken a unique perspective on their own freedoms – to move, shapeshift and reimagine the future.
Access Arts’ exhibition themes are consciously inclusive to allow for the diversity of expression and process. Artists are assisted to actualise their personal visions, acknowledging the value of their individual conceptualisations.
Visitors exhibition is available to view online until 31 January 2022. All artworks are available for sale.
Visitors was exhibited in-person at the Underground Foyer at Brisbane Powerhouse 1 – 12 December 2021.
Access Arts is Queensland’s acknowledged leader for arts and disability. We create career pathways to paid work, and advocate at every opportunity for our artists to chase their artistic dream. Through art, Access Arts transforms lives.
Visitors will exhibit at the Underground Theatre Foyer from1 – 12 December 2021. All artworks are available for sale, created by artists who attend Access Arts‘ Brisbane Outsider Artists’ Studio and Digital Media workshops.