A beautiful artwork created by a group of local people with disabilities will be raffled in time for Christmas to raise money to purchase new art supplies for the education program at Moree Plains Gallery.
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A number of people contributed to the creation of the artwork, including clients from Gwydir Industries, Life Without Barriers, the Challenge Foundation, Flourish Australia, a group of students from Moree Secondary College, and helpers.
The painting has been a work-in-progress for the past six months, as different groups would spend time on it during their art sessions in the studio at the back of Moree Plains Gallery, as part of one of many education programs the gallery runs.
Moree Plains Gallery education officer Janelle Boyd has been teaching the participants about colours which played a big part in the process of creating this artwork.
“The guys mixed all the colours up on seperate pieces of paper and used stamp punchers to cut all the different shapes out, then everybody had to stick them on,” Ms Boyd said.
“Everyone contributed, disabled and fully abled; even if it’s just sticking a glass ball on, it doesn’t matter.”
As a result, there are multiple layers within the painting which can be felt and touched.
“I try to do a lot of tactile work, more than just painting as it’s a more receptive way of creating,” Ms Boyd said.
Ms Boyd said the art program is great therapy for her students with disabilities, who absolutely love it.
“It’s relaxing and fun,” she said.
“We do have some very talented artists here … Aaron [Oppenheimer] is our resident genius. He’s very clever, it’s pretty amazing. They’re all pretty good.”
The finished artwork will now be raffled, with all proceeds to go towards the purchase of new art supplies to keep the program going.
Ms Boyd said they’re hoping to raise $2,500 to purchase supplies, which can be very expensive.
The raffle will be drawn just before Christmas.
Tickets are $2 and will be available from Moree Plains Gallery, Gwydir Industries or Moree Frame and Art.