Art in the City puts work on show

The Bunbury City Library has added a touch of colour to its foyer with Community Funding initiative Art in the City having expanded to include the Parkfield Street building.

Art in the City is a series of works created by people living with disabilities who, along with volunteer mentors, attend a mainstream art workshop once a week.

Works have been exhibited in the City of Bunbury administration building since April and Art Partners program officer Wanda Ariano said expanding Art in the City to include the library would attract a whole new audience.

“Libraries are full of curious people who are generally not in a terrific hurry to be somewhere else,” she said.

“Libraries are a place of reflection, and we hope people will have the time to view the works, and acquaint themselves with the artists by reading the accompanying information panels.”

Blue Vase of Flowers, painted in 2012 by Bunbury artist Roslyn Burns with the help of her tutor Billie Griffiths, is the first art work to be displayed in the library.

“Roslyn is a fantastic character and the Art Partners programme has been great not just for her artistic ability but also for her social skills,” Ms Griffiths said.

Ms Burns, who paints exclusively with her left foot, was also recently visited by the Dreamfit Foundation which is now investigating ways to simplify her artistic process.

“At the moment Roslyn’s helper has to squat down and hold the paint tray up to Roslyn’s foot which can become uncomfortable for her,” Mrs Ariano said.

“Dreamfit is looking at engineering a retractable surface that Roslyn can use on her own, which she is super enthusiastic about.”