The first Putting the Pieces Together artistic workshop was held last Saturday, the 5th of November, with participants from Gunnedah’s Young Access group painting, drawing, and decorating giant puzzle pieces. The members of Young Access created a wonderful and diverse jigsaw pieces, designed to create giant cubes which will tour in a travelling exhibition through the North West, showing how arts and people with disabilities can fit together with the community.

Young Access provides an opportunity for artists and young people with disabilities to explore and socialise through art and other hobbies in a supportive environment. The group is run in conjunction with Gunnedah Community College, GoCo, and Gunnedah Shire Council, and draws on members of the community to participate in the workshops.

“The workshop was wonderful, and I was happy to see that the it was quite well-organised, and designed for people to work with their abilities, which helped increase their self-esteem,” Julie Frend, mother of one of the participants, said.

“Everyone felt included in a happy atmosphere.”

This Saturday, the workshops will continue with young people making their own jigsaw puzzles to take home and enjoy with their families as the final ‘Putting the Pieces Together’ workshop. The workshops will continue on 19 and 26 of November seeing the members creating mosaics.

The touring exhibition Putting the Pieces Together will open in the Mooki Room of the Gunnedah Creative Arts Centre on International Disabilities Day, 3rd December, 2016. The exhibition will include ninety-six jigsaw puzzle pieces that will form sixteen cubes that have been created by young people with disabilities throughout the North West.

For more information regarding participation in the workshop, please contact Gunnedah Community College on 6742 5630.

Tom King-Warren, Julie Frend, Harrison Neader and Chris Frend

Tom King-Warren

Harrison Neader

ENDS

Media Contact: Eliza Gallen 6740 2100.