AART.BOXX
Artists talks, Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House, AART.BOXX, 2007.
AART.BOXX is an exhibition showcasing works across all art forms by emerging Australian artists who have a disability. Now in its third year, AART.BOXX provides a platform for artistic development for artists and creative thinkers beyond the beginning and end of an exhibition.
Public programs, a creative committee driving the event and cultural partners contribute to this platform. With over 350 people attending the two-day exhibition in 2007 at the Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House, AART.BOXX continues to grow in quality and momentum. In doing so, it is extending and challenging current discourses within contemporary art by including art practices that are informed by cultures of disability.
Joel Smith and Nathan O'Connell in the making of The Money, a short film at the comic intersection between Mafia-like characters and a popular TV game show, screened at AART.BOXX 2007.
AART.BOXX 2008
AART.BOXX has expanded into a three-week exhibition and will take place from 18 October to 8 November 2008. It is being held at Tin Sheds Gallery, a purpose built contemporary arts space affiliated with the University of Sydney.
AART.BOXX will be officially launched by Prof. Colin Rhodes, Dean of Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney from 6pm to 8pm, Friday 17 October 2008.Public programs that link audiences, access and professional development to the AART.BOXX experience will be featured throughout the exhibition. This will include artist talks and accessible exhibition tours.
Denis Bosnjak, Lucille, 2008, oil pastel on paper, 60 x 41cm.
About the Artists
AART.BOXX will feature the works of 25 artists from across Australia. The exhibition will include Bye Bye You, a collaborative short film from the GETOUT collective, detailed drawings of vacant shopping centres created from memory by David Gillham and Makes Them Want to Hurt the Pain, a rap inspired audio track that deals with loss and rejection by Ana Nguyen.
Selected Artists • Denis Bosnjak • Harrison Boyd • Jonathan Brent • Tamara Christy • Honey Crawford • Get Out! • David Gillham • Peter Hughes • Derek Konon • Kian Teik Lee • Jake Martin • Ian Mills • Dominic Morabito • David Morgan • Ana Nguyen • Matt Shilcock • Tim Sharp • Corey Stewart • Charlie Taplin • Julian Turner • Matthew Viney • Ben Walton • Digby Webster • Jessica West • Bianca Wright
David Gillham, Belmont Shopping Village, 2008, fibre tipped on paper with colliace, 42 x 59.5cm.
AART.BOXX Committee
A committee of young people with and without a disability formed in early 2008 to direct and drive AART.BOXX. The committee works as a creative collective to ensure an integrated approach to innovation in exhibition content and pathways to community participation. It consists of artists, arts workers and other individuals who are dedicated to improving access to the arts for people with a disability.
Artist Profile: Tim Sharp
Tim Sharp, The Barbie Q, AART.BOXX, 2007.
Brisbane based artist Tim Sharp has contributed work to AART.BOXX for the last two years because it is an accessible way of showing his work on a national level with other young artists.
Tim's work The Barbie Q was exhibited at AART.BOXX 2007 at the Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House. This work featured Laser Beak Man, a super hero created by Tim, who travels through a twisted world resembling Australian culture and beyond. Laser Beak Man has his own website which features a collection of works that Tim has created about the super hero. In the last twelve months, Tim has participated in five exhibitions.
"After participating in AART.BOXX last year, Tim gained confidence and it encouraged him to do more art," commented Judy Sharp, Tim's mother. "AART.BOXX has given Tim credibility in the artistic community. There is less emphasis placed on disability and more emphasis placed on being an artist - his art is given greater importance without limitations."
Tim is amongst 25 successful artists who will exhibit in this year's AART.BOXX. He is looking forward to meeting other artists and being involved in an artistic community at a different venue for a longer period. Tim explains "I like going to Sydney for AART.BOXX, it is fun and exciting. I like showing my art to new people and making new friends. People are very happy at AART.BOXX."
Artist Tim Sharpe
AART.BOXX Supporters
AART.BOXX was awarded a grant under the City of Sydney's Cultural Grants and Sponsorships Program for 2008. This funding was received in recognition that AART.BOXX directly benefits the community and contributes to the life of the City of Sydney culturally and socially.
2SER 107.3, a community radio station broadcasting to the broader metropolitan area of Sydney, formed a media partnership with Accessible Arts in 2008 to promote and raise awareness about AART.BOXX 2008. This partnership demonstrates the capacity of AART.BOXX to be a conduit for social change, access and diversity in the community, which are common aims of both organisations.
Further Information
To enquire about AART.BOXX contact Josie Cavallaro, Arts Development Officer on 02 9251 6499 (ext 4) or email jcavallaro@aarts.net.au.