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Inaugural art show features primary school paintings
An emerging art organisation is launching its inaugural season of programming with an exhibition featuring large-scale paintings created in collaboration with more than 250 primary school students.
The first exhibition at Vessel — an independent non-profit art organisation inside The Naval Store — is by Perth-born artist Gian Manik, who has worked closely with year 1 and 2 students from local schools, including Lance Holt School and North Fremantle, East Fremantle, White Gum Valley, Richmond, Beaconsfield and Our Lady of Fatima primary schools.
Primary schools in the cities of Fremantle and Melville and the Town of Cottesloe were among those who participated.
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The exhibition featuring the student art opens on June 27 and runs for six weeks inside the 1935 heritage-listed warehouse that became a multi-purpose space in 2020.
A concurrent artist-in-residence program by First Nations artist Amanda Bell is also under way.
'I seek to engage with others by telling stories in a way that is 'right way' for me as an Aboriginal person and artist, and to make a contribution to making spaces culturally safe in the arts and beyond,' Bell said.
Local artist Nina Juniper began managing The Naval Store in 2022 and was blown away by its potential. Alongside co-executive director Will Ek Uvelius, the pair announced Vessel in February.
Vessel was made possible by a $500,000 donation from board member Adam Jorlen in what the arts organisation claims is the largest cryptocurrency donation to Australia's arts industry.
The organisation has been inspired by one of Australia's most significant creative industry hubs, Carriageworks in Sydney, and the pair plan to recreate the platform in WA through Vessel.
The Naval Store will continue to be a multipurpose space for the community but Vessel will have structured seasonal exhibitions, with the first display opening on Friday.
