Art collective celebrates launch

BRIDGE Mall’s resident gallery, retail and workshop space was buzzing with activity on Saturday night as art collective Femxle Experience Art Rebellion invited the community to celebrate its grand opening.

About 50 people attended the event, including representatives of both Ballarat Evolve and Loud Fence, and FEAR co-founder Holly Would said she was amazed at the diversity of their guests.

“It was quite exciting for us with the amount of people from different spaces. We’d had events in the past, but this was something else. We’ve reached a much broader audience,” she said.

The launch comprised an evening of shopping and browsing, and attendees were encouraged to contribute their ideas to both collage and blank canvasses, which will be displayed as part of FEAR’s regular collection.

A raffle was held with the winner receiving an assortment of works by the founders and consigned artists, and cocktails were provided from the retail counter by FEAR’s regular bartender, Gypsy Barman, alongside live music.

Co-founder Toni Louise likened the atmosphere of the event to “a happening from the 70s and 80s,” where artists would gather, converse and collaborate on their works.

Louise said much of the funds collected from the night will go towards ensuring FEAR’s continuing endeavours, including supporting young, emerging artists in the region.

“There are a lot of younger artists, we call them our little cherubs, who come down here just to create,” she said.

“There’s not really a space around for that, so we’re wanting to make sure they have their materials and to provide that space for them to further their artistic development.”

Would said the event served as a dual celebration for both FEAR’s achievements and the diversity of the city’s artistic culture.

“My favourite thing to hear from people that makes me so proud of what we’ve created is that so many people will say they feel safe here,” she said.

“It’s one of the first times in their life that they’ve felt safe in a place where they can come regularly and just be, and not have to worry about anything else.”

“There’s so much more going on here than art, there really is. There’s just something else about this place that we’ve created that is really, really special.”

FEAR’s art gallery and workshops can be found at 57 Bridge Mall.