Artists in Residence on show

AIR_playgroupA fantastic new program igniting the imaginations of young visitors culminates this week at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG).

Throughout January, Barking Spider Visual Theatre’s Penelope Bartlau and Jason Lehane have been working at TMAG to create a brand new art work as part of the new Artists in Residence program.

To celebrate the end of their month-long residency – which has focused on the theme of the Antarctic – this week they are unveiling their creation in TMAG’s Central Gallery.

Visitors will be able to see a spectacular glowing iceberg, as well as meet the friendly ‘Ice-eractic’, a fantastical creature imagined by a 4-year-old girl who took part in one of Penelope and Jason’s workshops.

TMAG Art Education Coordinator Rebecca Tudor said the open studios, workshops, playgroups and in-conversation sessions held as part of the Artists in Residence program had all been well attended. 

“The program has been focused on enhancing creative opportunities for young children and families,” Rebecca said.

“Children have been able to watch, offer ideas and lend a hand to help create the ‘Ice-eractic’.

“Penelope and Jason have also been sharing their knowledge and experience with adults through in-conversation sessions and a special workshop for artists interested in working with children, which will take place tomorrow night at TMAG.

“This week’s public showings are a great chance to experience the creativity generated by the program first-hand, and so I hope many children and their families come along to the Central Gallery to see the final product.”

The Artists in Residence program is an initiative of AccessArt, supported by Detached Cultural Organisation.

The iceberg installation will be on display in TMAG’s Central Gallery from Wednesday 29 January 2014. 

Special performances of the ‘Ice-eractic’ will take place between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm on Thursday 30 January and Saturday 1 February 2014.

 

Image captions:

Above: Children get creative in an Artists in Residence playgroup session

Below: The 'Ice-eractic' - a fantastical creature imagined by a 4-year-old girl who took part in one of the playgroup sessions

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