TWO Rocks Yanchep Culture & Arts Network (TRYCAN) artists were on hand to show their artwork to federal Arts Minister Tony Burke when he visited Yanchep on Wednesday.
Mr Burke was there at the invitation of Pearce MHR Tracey Roberts, who said he was moved by what the community had created at Mary Lindsay Homestead where TRYCAN is based.
Pam Annesley was one TRYCAN member, who got to talk to Mr Burke about her artwork.
“I had on display a picture of the ‘old’ Mary Lindsay Homestead before renovation and a couple of beach scenes as well as some jewellery and an imitation sea coral ornament,’’ she said.
“He was amazed that the pictures were produced all with polymer clay.
“I explained that polymer clay is a modelling clay called polyvinyl chloride and is supple until baked in an oven at 130 degrees centigrade, when it goes hard and rigid.
“He asked about the colours of the clay and I explained about blending colours of the clay for tones of the sky and the ocean and mixing the clay together to form any colour just like paint.
“I showed him how I manipulated the clay to form dimensional aspects like the tree trunk and fence.
“I added texture to the clay with various tools that I made or found around me, one of which was a quandong seed.
“I was so pleased he took such an interest.’’
Mrs Roberts said the artists group who call The Gallery home were everyday Pearce residents who poured their hearts into creating, connecting and building something special together.
She said after a tour of the gallery Mr Burke shared that art had the power to help people see the world through someone else’s eyes and find empathy in each other.
“And standing in that space, surrounded by beautiful artwork and wonderful people, you could feel exactly what he meant,’’ she said.
“Having a federal minister walk through the doors of a community arts space in Pearce is a reminder that what happens here matters beyond our suburb boundaries.’’
The TRYCAN winter exhibition is open at The Gallery, Mary Lindsay Homestead, 100 Capricorn Esplanade Yanchep until August 30.
