Celebrate female artists and their stories with A Real Experience

Blacktown Arts presents A Real Experience, a new and free exhibition featuring artworks from both the Blacktown City Art Collection and Garage Graphix archive. It uses the landmark 1979 to 1981 community project titled Mothers’ Memories, Others’ Memories, by Vivienne Binns OAM, as the cornerstone of the exhibition, exploring the stories and creative practice of women.

Vivienne Binns’ collaborative work is recognised as a leading example of community-engaged art, that honours women’s lived experiences. Originally based in Blacktown, local women were invited to collaborate and tell their stories by sharing photographs and memories. These stories culminated in a collection of silk-printed postcards on enameled steel, that now serves as a key feature in the exhibition.

The artwork’s exploration of oral histories and family photo archives centered the lives and creative agency of women. This focus is visibly anchored in the current exhibition through the selections from the Garage Graphix archives, with some never seen before posters on display. Garage Graphix was a ‘Garage’ based in Mount Druitt, that produced hundreds of political and socially relevant screen-printed works and was an outstanding example of community arts practice, and leadership in Australia in the 80s and 90s.

Selected pieces from the Blacktown City Art Collection have been included in the exhibition, providing a diversity of perspectives from women in western Sydney, whilst championing senior career female artists, who are closely connected to Blacktown and its community.

Blacktown Arts is also proudly partnering with the Older Women’s Network in a series of workshops, guided by artist Amani Haydar, to further explore what community-based projects can look like in a contemporary setting. The works created in these workshops will be displayed in the final weeks of the exhibition, to celebrate the close of the project.

The Mayor of Blacktown City, Brad Bunting said, ‘This exhibition, A Real Experience, is a great opportunity to hear and be inspired by the creativity, stories and strength of women from across western Sydney.’

‘Blacktown City Council is proud to support free exhibitions like this through Blacktown Arts, helping our community connect with important local histories and enjoy world-class arts and culture close to home.’

Additionally, A Real Experience invites you to deepen your engagement with the artists, artworks and their stories with a vibrant public program.

On Saturday 30 August, Blacktown Arts hosts our Family Day multigenerational event, which will take shape as a relaxed and celebratory day, including 2 drop-in creative workshops, a performance by the Older Women’s Network cabaret group, and refreshments to celebrate the exhibition.

On Thursday 4 September, artist Linda Brescia will be co-facilitating a painting workshop with We Are Studios artist, Josseline Jeria. The workshop will focus on different approaches to portraiture, looking at the relationship between painting and text to explore identity and storytelling.

Visit the exhibition until Saturday 13 September, at The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre.

We gratefully acknowledge the Blacktown Arts and Crafts Group for their support and key role in co-facilitating Mothers’ Memories, Others’ Memories.

A Real Experience is presented by Blacktown Arts in collaboration with the Older Women’s Network.