Collaborative art project to grow as it goes

Lesley Paris with Tanya Faiva’s winning work Untitled. Photo by Gregor Richardson.

It may only be a few art works now but by early next year it will be a full collection of works created by artists around the country.

The Creative Spaces Capsule Project launched in Invercargill last month and has begun its national journey, stopping first in Dunedin.

It is an exhibition with a twist. It started with only one work and at each place it visits another work will be added to the collection.

Benton Glassey, from Dunedin's Studio 2 and Margaret Freeman Gallery, and Menno Huibers, of Pablos Art Studios in Wellington, describe themselves as the ''Capsule Cosmonauts'' leading the project.

Glassey said the idea of an artist exchange that would encourage interaction between creative spaces for marginalised artists was first mooted at a Creative Spaces Conference, an arts-based studio network.

So Glassey and Huibers put their heads together and came up with the capsule project idea.

''The premise is a rolling, evolving exhibition which will connect various creative spaces.''

The goals of the Capsule Project are to celebrate diversity, showcase some great artwork and educate local communities about creative spaces in their area, he said.

''Creative Spaces are organisations where people can make art and participate in artistic activities,

''They provide space, resources, and assistance in ways that will lead to self-expression, empowerment and self-development.''

While there were many creative spaces for artists with disabilities or mental health issues around the country they did not often interact with each other.

''We're all doing the same kind of thing but we have blinders on, so to speak, so this will make us look up at all the creative cool stuff that is going on around the country.''

It was going to be good to talk to each other and at the same time showcase the amazing art and talents of marginalised artists.

There had been great support from galleries and spaces around the country and about 15 had signed up.

''Each space will be passing on the baton, to use an Olympic analogy.''

That had already happened in Dunedin with Art Space in King Edward Court contributing a piece to the exhibition, which will hang in Studio 2 and Margaret Freeman Gallery.

The project had already been shown at Artsenta, which put up a collaborative work from about 15 different artists showcasing the variety of art made at the centre, alongside the very first work of the show, Lee Harland's Sea Mountains Sky Land, from C.S ARTS in Invercargill, where the capsule started.

Another aspect of the project was getting the community involved in the process.

It is intended that the artists and each community collaboratively decide which piece of artwork will be added to the capsule.

In Dunedin, Access Radio had been invited to help select the work from Studio 2 and Margaret Freeman Gallery to go into the collection.

The creative spaces involved, along with the public, will be able to follow the progress of the exhibition and interact with it via social media.

The project will culminate in a completed exhibition in Auckland in January 2017 before being an exhibit at both Wellington and Dunedin Fringe Festivals.

''It will finish in Invercargill where it started.''

To see

‘‘Creative Spaces Capsule Project’’, Studio 2 and Magaret Freeman Gallery until Friday, August 19.