Community
25 November, 2023
“Art is cool, art is fun.”
THE connection of the Machans Beach residents with their community has been captured in an art exhibition – Machans Beach: Its community, kids, and the bridge – at Tanks Arts Centre.
The exhibition is the result of 12 months of work by artist Marita D’Arcy, and includes 26 locals she painted, as well as 40 self-portraits by 25 Machans Beach State School students, made during workshops with Marita.
“My hope is that this project has shone a light on how connected this brave, feisty and concerned community is … built on the backs of the people you see in these paintings, and many more,” Marita said at the recent launch.
Not only does the exhibition feature 40 self-portraits by the year 4 to 6 primary school kids, but also audio recordings of their conversations about their art journey with Marita, their community, and the bridge.
Start your journey through this Machans Beach exhibition in Tank 4 viewing their video and hearing from the school students.
“Art is cool”, “fun”, “it’s your imagination” ... are just some of the student’s thoughts about art that you will hear.
An artist of more than 12 years, Marita said she was proud of the project which was a way of “connecting kids with art and their community”.
“The project was about bringing everyone together through art. Everyone in Machans Beach is very connected,” Marita said.
Marita did not choose the subjects of her 26 portraits, they were nominated by residents from the community, with many of them nominated by Machans Beach school students.
“They were all exceptional individuals and inspiring community role models of this tight knit little suburb.”
By far the most nominations were for Marita to paint local Mary Saveka’s portrait, an acrylic on paper she entitled “Because”.
Mary’s story beside her painting in the exhibition tells of her connection to Machans Beach and includes:
“I am a proud South Sea/Aboriginal woman from the Burdekin. I married a Torres Strait man, Ezra Saveka 43 years ago, who was already living at the Beach from the early 70s. We raised seven children who all attended the Machans School, even the grand children attended the school. … I am proud to be a part of this community.”
Machans Beach: Its Community, kids and the bridge will be at Tank 4 until Sunday Dec 10.
For more information go to tanksartscentre.com.au
