Tales of teapots poured into art project

TEAPOTS are in the spotlight for a new community art installation being prepared for Barkly Square in Ballarat East.

Under the guidance of local artist and creative producer Amy Tsilemanis, the installation is being set up in the atrium area of the building and will be officially launched as part of Barkly Square’s Communi-Tea event in November.

With support from a Regional Arts Victoria Quick Response grant, Ms Tsilemanis has been running a series of Teapot Tales workshops in which participants share a cuppa and decorate two-dimension and three-dimension teapots for inclusion in the installation.

Ply shapes are being cut by the Ballarat Men’s Shed and images providing inspiration for designs have been contributed by the Centre for Gold Rush Collections.

Workshops have been taking place across a range of community settings including aged care, multicultural youth, schools and playgroups.

The project is also inviting people to have their portraits taken by visual storyteller Diana Paez and to share their stories of tea or hot drink memories and rituals for audio recordings.

Ms Tsilemanis, who is volunteering with Food is Free at Barkly Square, is being supported in her work preparing the installation by fellow artists Holly Would and Abbie Matthews, and Lou Ridsdale of Food is Free as well as Playgroup Victoria and TBH Studio.

More workshops will be announced as they are organised, but in the meantime she will conduct a drop-in session between 10.30am and 1.30pm next Monday 29 September.

Ms Tsilemanis is also encouraging anyone to get in touch if they would like to set up a time for themselves or a group to get involved in the project.

She can be contacted by email at [email protected].

More about the installation project can be found on her website at amytsilemanis.com.au/portfolio/teapot-tales-at-barkly-square.