On the middle weekend of the July 2024 school holidays, 20 young people between the ages of 8 and 13 took part in a series of abstract art making workshops with Barwon Downs artist, Rachel King.
Rachel is an oil painter and creative art therapist in training whose work supporting artists who are neuro diverse and/or living with disability has led her to a particular passion for art making that is inclusive to all. She is endlessly inspired by the way young people are willing to try new things and make a mess.
The aim of the workshop series was to address the barriers of cost and travel to school holiday activities for local families. Over the course of the weekend, kids from Forrest and Birregurra were challenged to engage with art materials with a focus on process and curiosity rather than an outcome. Rachel challenged the kids with drawing exercises before she guided them through a process of layering art materials gradually to create texture and composition.
The Birregurra Art Show Committee proudly funded the purchase of high quality art materials and supplemented the cost of entry.
A big thank-you to Kylie Edwards from Colac Area Health for allowing the use of the BCHC as a donation in kind, to Renee from the Forrest Neighbourhood House who made these workshops happen with her support in the lead up and on the day, and to the Forrest Mens Shed for donating and cutting 30 plywood boards for the kids to paint on - making the workshops the product of true community collaboration.
The workshop series will continue next school holidays at the Gellibrand Neighbourhood House and Deans Marsh Community Cottage. Rachel hopes to continue to run workshops locally for children and adults so watch this space!
Here is what participants said:
“I loved the painting and the colours, the lavender colour was my favorite. We got to paint on boards which we’ve hung up in our lounge room. I learnt to do abstract art and realized I was really good at it.“ Soraya, 8
“That was so fun… the best art workshop I've done." Darcy, 9
