BRIDGE Mall\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was quite exciting for us with the amount of people from different spaces. We\u2019d had events in the past, but this was something else. We\u2019ve reached a much broader audience,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s regular collection.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s regular bartender, Gypsy Barman, alongside live music.<\/p>\n
Co-founder Toni Louise likened the atmosphere of the event to \u201ca happening from the 70s and 80s,\u201d where artists would gather, converse and collaborate on their works.<\/p>\n
Louise said much of the funds collected from the night will go towards ensuring FEAR\u2019s continuing endeavours, including supporting young, emerging artists in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a lot of younger artists, we call them our little cherubs, who come down here just to create,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s not really a space around for that, so we\u2019re wanting to make sure they have their materials and to provide that space for them to further their artistic development.\u201d<\/p>\n
Would said the event served as a dual celebration for both FEAR\u2019s achievements and the diversity of the city\u2019s artistic culture.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy favourite thing to hear from people that makes me so proud of what we\u2019ve created is that so many people will say they feel safe here,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s one of the first times in their life that they\u2019ve felt safe in a place where they can come regularly and just be, and not have to worry about anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s so much more going on here than art, there really is. There\u2019s just something else about this place that we\u2019ve created that is really, really special.\u201d<\/p>\n
FEAR\u2019s art gallery and workshops can be found at 57 Bridge Mall.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BRIDGE Mall\u2019s 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 […]<\/p>\n