ART IN THE GARAGE
TULGEEN'S ARTS PROGRAM
ABOUT US
Forging relationships with Artists, Mentors and Community
Tulgeen Disability Services began providing services to people with disability in the Bega Valley over 40 years ago. Art in the Garage is part of Tulgeen and employs local practicing artists who work with emerging artists identifying with disabilities. The program's philosophy focuses on encouraging the development of arts skills, and nurturing individual creativity through sensitive mentorship. A portfolio of artwork is established for each artist creating opportunities for exhibiting and providing pathways to professional development.
Art in the Garage has had many exhibitions for the artists as a collective and also exhibitions featuring the work of individual artists. The Art Project is regarded as unique in regional Australia with artists being invited to exhibit their work in many other regions of NSW, ACT and Queensland.
The project has humble origins.
Twenty years ago a small domestic garage in Eden Street, Bega was converted into a rudimentary painting and drawing studio. Over the years a new art making environment has developed that provides additional studio spaces adjoining the original garage site. These new studios provide specialised facilities for artists to gain experience in printmaking, ceramics, and sculptural works.
The Art in the Garage project with its Artists, Mentors and their artworks demonstrate the benefits of creative diversity in our community.
MEET OUR ARTISTS
Tulgeen's ART IN THE GARAGE program is a thriving activity where artists are mentored by professional artists to develop their creativity.
GRAHAM HENKEL
Painting, Printmaking, Artist Books
Graham expresses himself through a creative and unique narrative which results in humorous, playful and unexpected views of his unconventional world. He works with coloured pencil and paint and recurring images of Australian fun parks, bridges, ships, pirates, sharks and colonial stories.
KRYSTAL CUTAJAR
Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Artist Books
Krystal combines her affection for dragons and love of sea life in whimsical delicate images creating mysterious mythological creatures. By exploring a wide variety of drawing and painting techniques including printmedia Krystal captures these beautiful creatures in her creative landscapes.
JOHN KIVITS
Painting, Mixed Media
John loves the process of painting and drawing and has developed a distinctive style. His expressionist abstract works use graphic lines overlapping between circles, squares and straight lines. John has the unique ability to put colour and line together that is both pleasing and exciting to the eye.
MAJELLA BAILEY
Painting, Printmaking, Textiles
Majella creates vibrant paintings and designs of imaginary landscapes filled with Australian animals, flora and family. Her unique ideas and patterns are energised with a vivid use of colour and a prolific imagination. Majella has recently created a range of screen printed fabrics which have been used to refurnish recycled furniture.
GRAEME SMITH
Painting, Mixed Media
Graeme is a prolific painter who expresses himself with bold colours and energetic mark making. His expressionistic style allows for large scaled works which explores a wide variety of subject matter. His strong connection to the desert and Uluru is a recurring theme that dominates his multimedia paintings.
NADINE CRAWFORD
Painting, Printmaking, Artist Books
Nadine creates delightful artworks of the people and animals in her life through drawing and painting. She uses bright colours and is keen to explore new materials and ideas. Nadines often humorous work is frequently combined with story telling which has led her to create artists books.
JOSHUA DEWBERRY
Painting, Printmaking
Joshua has a great enthusiasm for art and learning new skills and techniques. New to Art in The Garage he is developing his own narrative through his wide interest in ships, the natural world and a passion for sport. Joshua works between mixed media, drawing, painting and collage.
CORNELIUS MOON
Painting, Drawing
Cornelius uses memory to depict rural and urban scenes from his life. His interest in animals, landscape and machinery is often portrayed with a humorous approach. Cornelius uses energetic expressive line work combined with imaginative colour combinations
predominantly in watercolour.
TAYLOR KEARNEY
Painting, Mixed Media, Printmaking
Taylor has developed a narrative in her artwork that expresses her passion for adventures and the natural environment. Taylor combines detailed line work and bright colours to create mesmerising landscapes and seascapes. Recently Taylor has been expressing her love of animals from a road trip to the Mogo Zoo.
MEET OUR ART MENTORS
ART IN THE GARAGE
LEIGH GORDON
Leigh has a Diploma in Graphic Design and Illustration from Swinburne, Melbourne. He has had numerous solo and group exhibitions which include Melbourne and the Bega Valley. Leigh has been working as a mentor in Art in The Garage for nearly 20 years.
JENNY MCKENZIE
Jenny has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from National Art School, Sydney and a Dip Ed from Alexander Mackie, COFA, Sydney. She worked at the Dept of Education as a Secondary Visual Arts teacher for 10 years and an Art Therapy teacher in Special Education for 7 years.
TANYA BOURKE
Tanya has a BA of Contemporary Art from Southern Cross University. She has worked with remote and urban Indigenous communities, youth community centres and disadvantaged people to develop and teach art programs that also establish continual art practices. Tanya has exhibited both locally and nationally.
JULIE KRONE
Julie has a Master of Visual Arts from Sydney College of the Arts in Printmedia and a Diploma of Visual Communication from Christchurch Polytech, NZ. For 12 years Julie was a Fine Arts Tutor at the Illawarra Institute of Technology, Moss Vale and Goulburn. She has had numerous solo exhibitions in Australia and overseas.
KATE BURKHARDT
Kate has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the National Art School, and a Certificate III in Individual Support from Bega TAFE. She has experience teaching art to students in Spain and has exhibited in various group shows in Sydney. Having worked in several art stores throughout Sydney, she has extensive knowledge of most art materials and their applications.
ANNE BALCOMB
Anne has a Bachelor of Arts (1st class Honours) from the Australian National University, Canberra and certificate IV in Community Services from TAFE NSW. She has worked at Canberra Institute of Technology, Megalo and Nolan Gallery teaching art programs. Anne has had numerous exhibitions in Australia and overseas.
NESS MERCIECA
Ness has a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Visual Arts Dean Scholar) graduating with Distinction and majoring in painting, and a Masters of Teaching (secondary) from the University of Wollongong. She has worked as a secondary art teacher and in school learning support units since 2015.
CONTACT
We look forward to hearing from you. Contact us for further information.