In 2004, Greystanes Disability staff approached Geoff White of Lost Bear Gallery in Katoomba with an idea to mount an exhibition of works by people with disability to celebrate International Day of People with Disability.
For the next 12 years, Mr White supported the project, for which Greystanes is extremely grateful.
Like most good things, it had to come to end and so this year Greystanes hosted the event at Lily’s Pad café in Leura, thanks to the generosity of the building’s owners, the Dockside Group.
This year more than half the paintings sold, with the money from the sales going directly to the artists.
Sensorial 2017 had 42 individual artworks from the people Greystanes supports and many collaborative works from the partnership between the Year 9 visual arts students from Blue Mountains Grammar School.
This relationship between Greystanes and Grammar is now in its sixth year. Trevor Barman, the school’s headmaster, said it was lovely to see the creative talents of those at Greystanes on display.
“We are very pleased to be able to work on such a collaborative project involving the people at Greystanes and the students and staff at BMGS,” he said.
The benefits flow both ways. The students visited the exhibition and spoke about their experience of the art collaboration with people from the Day Options program and how it has changed their perspective on disability.
Scott Jeffery was the winner of the 2017 Vivien Clear Award for the most creative work. Judged by Prue Hardgrove, Council’s Aged and Disability Officer and sponsored by Blue Mountains City Council, the award was presented to Scott by Prue. Vivien Clear was one of the founders of the annual exhibition project.
Greystanes is grateful for the generosity of the many individuals and organisations who have supported the exhibition, including Bob Weaver OAM, Blue Mountains City Council, Blue Mountains Grammar School, Hope Tree Framing in Wentworth Falls, Scenic World and the volunteers.
