Recognising 100 years of disability arts advocacy, the visual arts exhibition, 50 Birds, celebrates the 50-year anniversary of two iconic organisations – Arts Project Australia and Arts Access Victoria.
Curated by Rosie O’Brien and Pegs Marlow, 50 Birds brings together 14 artists who are inspired by the beauty and brilliance of birds across ceramics, sculpture, painting, drawing, embroidery and textiles.
50 Birds is Rosie O’Brien’s curatorial debut since joining Arts Project Australia in 2015. “I love nature because I’m a flower myself. Nature has such a presence. I like birdcalls and their songs. I like all birds,” said Rosie.
“With my bird paintings, I don’t follow the ones in the book; I do my own versions of the birds, because it’s extra special doing it that way. I really like working with gouache, because you can choose what colour you want for each picture, each bird.”
Rosie finds painting really therapeutic. For almost 10 years at Art Project Australia she has created works for several group exhibitions in Sydney and Melbourne and completed a six-month traineeship at the Collingwood Yards gallery.
“Our artists are always at the centre of everything we do. Since 1974 we have supported over 500 artists to make art on their own terms. 50 Birds is a moment to partner with our friends at Arts Access Victoria to acknowledge our impressive shared milestone,” said Arts Project Australia Executive Director, Liz Nowell.
“We proudly support the work of Deaf and Disabled artists and work towards cultural equity for all Deaf and Disabled people. We are thrilled to partner with Arts Project Australia to highlight the work of artists across both organisations in celebration of our 50 years,” said Arts Access Victoria CEO, Joshua Pether.
The 50 Birds exhibition features Arts Project Australia artists Rosie O’Brien, Miles Howard-Wilks, Simon Paredes, Robert Brown, Anne Lynch, Barbara Gibbs, Dorothy Berry and Alan Constable alongside Arts Access Victoria’s artists Lisa Pownall, Kristy Sweeney, Heather White, Leann Preddy, Diana Kagadis and Fiona Taylor.
50 Birds
Arts Project Australia gallery – Collingwood Yards, 35 Johnston Street, Collingwood
Exhibition continues to 5 October 2024
Free entry
For more information, visit: www.artsproject.org.au for details.
Image: Rosie O’Brien is the Co-curator of 50 Birds at Arts Project Australia (supplied)