OpenArts in Healesville, Victoria | Non-profit organisation

OpenArts

Locality: Healesville, Victoria

Address: 505 Maroondah Highway 3777 Healesville, VIC, Australia

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• Non-profit organisation
• Community organisation
• Art gallery

25.01.2022 For the sake of the perpetual struggle...

23.01.2022 A few more snaps from the opening of my Consequences exhibition at Memorial Hall Healesville last month. Thank you again to everyone who came along! Stay tuned ...for some exciting news too! Thanks to Lee Bird Photography for the gorgeous images! #Art #Alchemy #Abstract #StayTuned

22.01.2022 Loving Jenny Reddin's image at the top of the OpenArts page! Her next exhibition 'Consequences' opens next Friday night (June 5) at The Memo Gallery, Healesville drop by and say Hi, and support a fellow artist!

21.01.2022 Have a listen whilst you work...

21.01.2022 Ali Griffin is trending and in the paper...

20.01.2022 The work of Jasmine Kay Uy for her University of Texas at Austin Department of Art and Art History Digital Foundations class with Bethany Johnson titled "Art is... Pointless...". The prompt was to create a work that investigated site-specificity, public setting, and text-based art using Illustrator and the vinyl cutter. According to Uy, the format was inspired by Publicis London's Corners campaign for Depaul UK. Any reproduction of this work is done so without my permission. This project is meant to be a short-term investigative project that is to stay within the confines of the University of Texas at Austin. For more work by Uy, visit her portfolio: https://www.behance.net/gallery/29917475/Other-Artworks Photo by atrachelabbott

20.01.2022 New cover image by the lovely Amanda Ruck.

19.01.2022 Ali Griffin's website is populated and ready to look at. Please enjoy http://aligriffin.com.au

18.01.2022 And yet we do it anyway...

18.01.2022 A long list, but worth read thank to Artshub. 50 ways to take care of yourself in the arts... 1. Get out of your head Our thoughts can often be biased and get ...stuck in harmful feedback loops about not being good enough, not doing enough, not helping enough, not knowing enough. This damages creative relationships and our capacity to do good work. Step out of that loop through mindfulness or physical activity. 2. Be playful Whether its playing a sport, going for a jog, stealing flowers from other peoples gardens or swinging on the playground, playfulness is often an underrated tool to help manage stress. 3. Share with others One delegate was asked in a job interview, What do you need help with? This is something to continually ask yourself throughout projects or your art practice, and a way to reach out to others. 4. Nurture an attitude of gratitude Being grateful for something as small like having milk in the fridge can help give you perspective. 5. Get your life admin in order Change your sheets, make sure you have food in the fridge, do your laundry, clear your desk. Sorting out your life admin before a big project means that you dont need to worry about it for a while. 6. Basic nutrition Make sure you eat food that makes you feel recharged. If you are travelling away or have an upcoming residency, plan meals and eat well in the lead up. 7. Have the treat now Dont wait for something good to happen in order to give yourself a treat. Enjoy something now, even just a cup of tea, and reward yourself for your hard work. 8. Check in with yourself Self-care is continuous. Checking in with yourself along the way, not just at the end of a project means that you can avoid feeling like youve been hit by an unexpected bout of exhaustion. 9. Put an end to your work day A common cause of burnout is the undefined nature of work in the arts. What is professional time and what is personal time? Even arbitrary structures such as I will break for lunch or I will stop work at 6pm can keep the constantly-working-around-the-clock feelings in check. 10. Limit screen time Enforce a rule where you dont look at your phone during your morning commute, or switch off your phone each night to avoid reading emails or checking social media in bed. 11. Stop for food Dont eat at the computer: make it a rule to stop for three meals each day. 12. Be present Dont let what could happen in the future taint what is happening now. Likewise, dwelling on the past can prevent you from doing your best work in the present. Take time to be by yourself to focus and be conscious of what is around you. 13. What stories are you telling yourself? Recognise the stories you are telling yourself that are not serving you well. Integrate them and ground your thoughts in facts. Know that feelings arent facts. 14. Know its okay to step back Dont feel guilty about taking time out before a big show, launch, or intensive work period. So often we work right up to the eleventh hour, buzzing on our phones and computers. Taking time to leave the space and focus, or sitting in a neutral space, can be more beneficial in the long run. 15. Assess your to-do list Often we can fool ourselves into thinking that because something is on our to-do list, we have to do it. Reassess, clear the clutter, and target what you really need to be doing. 16. Use to-do lists That said, if you are feeling overrun, a to-do list can help give you focus and control. One delegate suggested turning your to-do lists into adventure maps with illustrations to make tasks seem less daunting. 17. Clarify your purpose or intent When you start feeling stressed about things that you should be doing, or overwhelmed by the amount of work you have taken on, try and come back to your original intent for the project or the purpose of your work. What really matters? What tasks, thoughts, and burdens can you get rid of? 18. Have faith in your colleagues and collaborators Sometimes we can presume it is all on us, but remember that usually you have colleagues and support around you. Get better at delegating. 19. Trust the process Understand where you are at, where you need to go, know that youve pulled this off before and trust that youll pull it off again. 20. Be okay with doing nothing Pressure to be productive all the time is nonsense. Let yourself have a bath, read a book, switch off from social media or just lay in bed and do nothing. Its okay to do nothing. 21. Build in congratulations along the way We dont need to wait until it is all over to celebrate. Take time to congratulate yourself and your team for achieving smaller milestones. 22. Make self-care part of the acquittal Self-care needs to become part of the vernacular and a respected and valued part of any project or workplace. 23. Dont do the debrief at the end of the project Allow time, Skype if you have to, you need space away from the project. 24. Put recovery time into the budget When applying for a grant or putting together a budget, factor in self-care and recovery time. 25. Acknowledge and reflect on the project Often it's best to reflect on the project a few weeks after its conclusion. Acknowledge the work you have done, the personal and organisational learnings, and how they can be applied to future projects. 26. Manage the post-show high You may feel a rush of adrenaline after the completion of a show or project, but if you blow out by going to a big party and end up in bed for a week to recover its not the best use of your energy. Think ahead to your sustainability. 27. Have a celebration That said, if having a party works for you, let your hair down. Find your way and know what your treat is and what is good for you. 28. Dont let FOMO fool you Its okay to retire to bed. We can feel this pressure to go to every opening, exhibition, see every project, keep networking least we be left behind, but acknowledging what you really would prefer to do instead of being ruled by what you should be doing can diminish the feelings of fear of missing out. 29. Look at how you are using drugs and alcohol A lot of people around you may be using drugs and alcohol as a way to celebrate or cope with stress and trauma. Make informed choices and seek help where necessary. You are in charge of your well-being. 30. Identify when you are being pulled into a negativity vortex Dont let negative feedback or naysayers discourage you. As one delegate said, I had to remind myself I did the work. I wrote a book, so fuck everybody. You did it, and other people shouldnt get in the way of you feeling good about that. 31. Reconnect with friends When our collective mantra is 'I'm so busy, busy, busy' we can neglect people around us. Reconnect and reach out to your friends and family and let them know if you are feeling burnout. 32. Be with nature Spending time in nature can quite grounding and reflective it can often help you pinpoint what it is that is making you stressed so you can reassess. 33. Animal companionship Take your dog for a walk or spend time with a pet to de-stress. 34. Relish solitude Sometimes it can feel as if there is a pressure to be with people, but for some, hanging out by yourself is more nourishing. Its okay to connect with just one person, not 20. Hibernate, you can even order your groceries online if you want to. Its about finding what recharges you. 35. Say no There is an art to saying no, and it's essential to preserve self-care. We can't eliminate everything we don't want to do in life, but saying no to relationships that aren't working well, projects that you don't have time for or interest in, or the commitments that don't enrich you in some way, is extremely beneficial. 36. Do something totally different When you finish a project, going overseas or switching practices can be reinvigorating. Change really is as good as a holiday. 37. Build boundaries Working in the arts can often mean no structure when it comes to personal and professional time, and sometimes relationships with colleagues, clients and communities can eat into our private lives. Build boundaries, which can be as simple as switching off email notifications on your smartphone. 38. Where you are and what is the end goal When feeling stressed or overwhelmed, knowing where you are at and what your goals are for a project or even your career can help bring focus and clarity. 39. Dont let your creativity be shoved to the side Even just ten minutes of your own writing or creative focus can be healing. Unlike going from job to job to job, art is a lifelong practice. 40. Restructure your work week While not all arts workers work in an organisation or have the ability to work relatively set hours, if you can, consider how you distribute your working hours through the week. Working 8am-6pm Monday to Thursday and having Friday off may work better in order to give you time for your creative projects. 41. Ask for money You might get asked to work for free for a good cause or 'great exposure', but it not up to somebody else to determine what is a good cause or the value of exposure for you. Keep in mind they wouldnt ask the caterers to walk for free, so why should the most valuable contributions to the project be neglected? 42. Know the warnings signs Often we can be so excited to get work that we ignore potential stresses. Are they walking the talk? Trust your gut and know when you are being 'chronically bullshitted', said a delegate. 43. Do your reference check Talk to peers about other organisations and people to make sure you will be working in an environment that is supportive. 44. Systematic issues and what is acceptable Working long hours for low pay is entrenched in the sector but would be unacceptable in the corporate sector. We need to do our bit to try and break this down by saying no to working for free, taking breaks, and factoring in self-care into budgets and grant applications. 45. Its okay to walk away Whether it be during or at the completion of a project, sometimes our health and wellbeing may require us to walk away. One delegate said that when she finishes a project, she tells her boss she needs a break. It may be five days, it may be three weeks, but 'she will be back.' 46. Really listen You dont have to have the answers, but letting someone speak and really be heard can be helpful. Platitudes such as, 'Hows your depression?' are not really listening, but offering a genuine conversation helps build empathy. Your offer may be rebuffed, but it's still a step towards us all getting better at listening. 47. Stop telling ourselves and others to toughen up Telling ourselves to toughen up when we are feeling burnout creates a harmful feedback loop: we feel exhausted, then guilty for feeling exhausted, so we 'toughen up', and wind up feeling even more exhausted. If we acknowledge and take our own well-being seriously, we set a good example for others to nurture their own. Small steps at an individual level could see a change in the 'toughen up' culture of the sector. 48. Be comfortable with uncertainty Stress can manifest when we worry about the future. At Making Time, delegates were advised to look at what you are fearful of and what you are avoiding. Is it failure? Is it letting people down? Trying to bring your focus back to the current project can minimise stress and worry surrounding an imagined future. 49. Are you biting off more than you can chew? Assess your commitments. Is there anything that you are doing that does not align with your goals? What is the biggest stress? Could you reduce your workload in one area? Time and attention are two of our most precious resources and what we do with them can either aggravate or defend against burnout. 50. Recognise the warning signs of depression and anxiety in yourself Mental illness can present differently in people, but some signs that you may be experiencing depression can include social isolation, loss of interest in work or other activities, poor hygiene, and emotional instability. Know that some days you might feel okay, but other times may not. It is important to seek help. Reach out to a friend, colleague or talk to someone about your mental health at beyondblue on 1300 22 4636.

15.01.2022 How cool is this?

12.01.2022 This artist is really kicking goals. Well done Belinda. You can see her and her latest work (she is literally working on it!) at the Upper Yarra Arts Centre in Warburton right now!

12.01.2022 Another fab artist who lives in Healesville...

10.01.2022 #TarraWarraMAExhibitions: we are now getting ready for our major winter exhibition 'The Triumph of Modernism', opening on June 20! It has been guest curated by ...the distinguished former director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Edmund Capon AM, OBE, and spans 60 years of Australian Art, featuring over 60 iconic works by 26 artists who have shaped the development of modern art in this country. It tells the story of a new identity in Australian art commencing post World War II through the works of artists such as Sidney Nolan, Arthur Boyd, Russell Drysdale, John Brack, John Perceval and Charles Blackman. Later years explore the continuing development of modern art in Australia in the works of Fred Williams and John Olsen, and in more recent times, through contemporary art works by Imants Tillers, Howard Arkley and Aida Tomescu. The exhibition is a partnership project between TarraWarra Museum of Art and Hazelhurst Regional Gallery & Arts Centre, @hazelhurstgallery Of the vibrant, colourful work shown here, John Olsens painting 'Salute to Cerberus', which the artist painted in 1965, Capon says: "This painting has become a hallmark for the show; it has got all of Olsens sense of celebration, incorporating his joie de vivre. John Olsen AO OBE, was born in Newcastle, 1928. He has had a long and distinguished career as an Australian artist and is still painting today at the age of 87. In 1977 he was awarded the O.B.E. for services to the Arts and in 1993 he was awarded an Australian Creative Fellowship.In 2001 Dr John Olsen was made an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO). He was also awarded the Wynne Prize in 1969 and 1985, amongst many other awards throughout his career, including the 2005 Archibald Portrait Prize. Image: John Olsen, Salute to Cerberus 1965 (detail) oil on plywood, 185 x 244.5 cm TarraWarra Museum of Art collection Gift of Eva Besen AO and Marc Besen AO 2001 #TarraWarraMA #TriumphOfModernism

09.01.2022 "I have come to learn that if I dont value my time, nobody else does."

08.01.2022 Another great reason to come to Healesville for an artful weekend...

07.01.2022 "I have come to learn that if I don’t value my time, nobody else does."

07.01.2022 See you there, I hope!

06.01.2022 Excellent Tiwi Ochre exhibition now on!

06.01.2022 Get along to see Textum by Gillain Farrow and Ian Westwood at The Memo Gallery in Healesville. http://ach.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Whats_On/Textum

05.01.2022 Sounds awesome!

05.01.2022 One of our founding members well done Jenny Reddin!

04.01.2022 Don't forget Peter Thorpe's watercolour Demonstration today from 12-3 at Art at Linden Gate 899 Healesville-Yarra Glen Rd, Yarra Glen

02.01.2022 Have you seen this exhibition yet? Get along.

02.01.2022 Yet another talented artist who lives in the beautiful Yarra Valley...