address 122 Gerler Road Hendra Brisbane Qld 4011

phone 07 3059 9740freecall 1800 866 101email information@magsq.com.au web www.magsq.com.au

31 January 2018 Museums & Galleries Queensland is seeking expressions of interest for Reasonable and Necessary: prints and artist books by Artel Artists. Artel, CPL’s (Choice, Passion, Life) creative industries studio in Redcliffe supports the development of a positive and participatory cultural identity for people with profound and complex disabilities. The studio offers space, instruction and an environment in which this particular community of individuals has been able, over many years, to express themselves as a dynamic artistic movement. The exhibition Reasonable and Necessary, curated by Lynne Seear, includes prints and artist books, which are both refreshingly unpretentious and exceedingly skilled and which pose these fundamental questions: “Who Am I?”, “Where Do I Belong”, “What Do I Love?”. The Artel artists address these questions with a range of artworks in familiar genres – portraits, landscapes, still-life, abstracts – but using a visual language that is contemporary, distinctive and undeniably their own. About the Curator: Lynne Seear has worked as a senior curator and arts manager for 30 years, including 16 years at the Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art in management roles. From 2000 to 2010 she was the Queensland Art Gallery's Deputy Director, Curatorial and Collection Development. In this position, she had executive oversight of the curatorial programs and projects that were crucial to the establishment of the Gallery of Modern Art, in particular the growth and display of the Gallery’s contemporary collections. For the past six years, she has worked on the development and implementation of a multifaceted Arts Program for the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital and Children’s Health Queensland. She has a specialist research interest in the importance of arts and culture to wellbeing and the integration of creative arts programs within healthcare settings. From the Curator: On first meeting, the artists who practice at Artel seem distant from the art world’s real, prickly existence. There is no denying that the art that is produced here is partly made possible despite extraordinary challenges – most of the artists require a degree of patient facilitation and ingenious support systems in order to complete their work, especially as it involves the sometimes laborious techniques of print-making. Certain words often buzz around discussions of work by artists with disabilities – words like "naive," "pure," "raw," "visionary". While many of these characteristics hold true of the work made by the Artel artists, they speak not only to the artist but to the audience, and to ideas of what constitutes art making in its most idealized, authentic sense. This language unveils the unadulterated act of creation, outside of norms and trends and anxieties and the desire for commercial success.

Page 2 of 6

Nevertheless such labels can also function as a discriminatory boundary preventing “untrained” artists from their rightful places in the canon and the market. This exhibition of prints and artist books seeks to disrupt that barrier. This exhibition is supported by valuable public programs for your community Public programs include Floor Talks, Printmaking workshops, and Artist Book workshops. Regional audiences can benefit and learn from Artel’s experiences, studio practices, support methods and specialised tools. Experienced Artel Co-ordinators can provide best-practice counsel and demonstrate necessary support structures for increasing accessible, inclusive arts and cultural initiatives. The touring exhibition, Reasonable and Necessary: prints and artist books by Artel Artists will include framed prints; artist books; a collection of artists’ adapted tools; photographs, didactic information and a documentary film (TBC) by local Redcliffe filmmaker, providing significant insight into the intricacies and challenging work involved (both from artist and technician) in facilitating high levels of autonomous, participant-directed artwork; and insight into the individual artists’ lives and how Artel has changed or influenced them.

Exhibition details… Exhibition available: 2019/2020 Exhibition Title: Reasonable and Necessary: prints and artist books by Artel Artists Curator: Lynne Seear Exhibition size: approx. 45 running metres Hire fee: $2200 plus GST Support Material:

o Exhibition Room Brochure o Education Resource o Artwork labels o Templates for signage o Media Kit o Interpretative / Didactic Panels o Invitation template o Exhibition Installation Manual

Page 3 of 6

Richard Uil, The Belvedere Hotel, 2011. Lino print. Courtesy of the artist.

Michael Doust, Born this way, 2014. Lino print. Courtesy of the artist.

Sara Wyatt, Plane trip to Tasmania, 2016. Lino print. Courtesy of the artist.

Page 4 of 6

Liam McMahon, Liam, 2014. Artist Book (detail). Courtesy of the artist.

Robert Gallagher, Mother’s Second Car, 2012. Relief print. Courtesy of the artist.

Justin Lavendar, Ladies Please, 2016. Screenprint. Courtesy of the artist.

Page 5 of 6

Bevon Diver, Australian Flag, 2012. Relief Lino print. Courtesy of the Artist.

Artist Robert Oakman. Image credit: Andrea Higgins.

Artel artist tools

Page 6 of 6

Expression of Interest Form Gallery/Venue: Address: Contact: Position: Phone number: Email: Preferred exhibition dates: 1) 2) 3) Expression of interest only Confirmed subject to funding

Reasons for interest in this exhibition:

Printmaking and artist books Artwork by Regional Artists Arts and Health/Arts and Disability Supporting programs and materials provided by M&G QLD Other _________________________________________

Predicted audience numbers: Commitment to provide local marketing support:

Yes Commitment to provide appropriate public liability insurance:

Yes _______________________________ _____________ Signature Date Expressions of interest should be directed to: Bonnie Melrose Museums & Galleries Queensland Phone: (07) 3059 9747 Email: bonnie.melrose@magsq.com.au