ART and football fanatics alike are set to get a kick out of an upcoming exhibition, which will be partly housed in a custom-built gallery in Mount Gambier’s central business district.
Nine South East artists have joined emerging South Australian talent, along with football legends and personalities, to create an art exhibition with a difference.
The TransformARTive exhibition – opening Friday night – will showcase unique artworks in the Main Corner, as well as a custom-built gallery inside a shipping container in the Cave Gardens.
South East textile artist Shelley Husband has joined Premier Steven Marshall, tennis champion Lleyton Hewitt and MasterChef judge Matt Preston in using a football as a canvas.
“I heard about the exhibition from my husband, then decided to give it a go,” Ms Husband said.
Ms Husband’s piece depicts the transformation from seed to flowers.
Crocheted by herself, she said it took her around 10 hours to complete.
“I decided to do the transformation of the seeds to flowers purely because I design flower crochet patterns,” she said.
“So the white lines along here represent the roots with the little buds being the seeds.”
With no specific flowers in mind, Ms Husband said she enjoyed the challenge.
“It was difficult to get the shape of the football,” she said.
“Essentially the only way I could really do it was to make two beanie shaped items and join them together.”
The exhibition theme centres around the transformation young people undergo through the Youth Opportunities personal leadership program.
Youth Opportunities regional trainer Sarah Milne said the young people they work with may face a “myriad of challenges” related to anxiety, depression, family breakdown, bullying or lack of direction to school and study.
“Through our program they learn the skills to make the right choices and come out of the program more motivated in school, confident in themselves and able to tackle life’s challenges,” Ms Milne said.
“It is a true transformation of one’s self.”
The exhibition will be opened Friday from 6pm and can be viewed by the public daily from 7.30am to 6.30pm.
