THE site of a hand therapy service in Ballarat\u2019s health precinct has seen a permanent touch of colour with the walls and outdoor garden now housing the works of linocut artist Amanda Western.<\/p>\n
Twenty-six of her prints are on display at Restore Hand Therapy on Errard Street with the creative residency launched in late February.<\/p>\n
Western said the exhibition called Restore Gallery came about as a crossover between another artistic pursuit of hers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was in Ballarat Lyric Theatre\u2019s Sound of Music<\/EM> and through the cast and crew I was introduced to Jen Kaess, the proprietor of Restore Hand Therapy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d been coming to rehearsals with quite a sore hand and made an appointment with her, brought in my tools, and explained my craft and she put in place a routine to keep my hands in good health.<\/p>\n \u201cShe started looking at my work and came to my first exhibition and purchased some pieces and from there she wanted to hang even more pieces up to make the place a bit of a gallery.\u201d<\/p>\n Western\u2019s works previously displayed at places like The Old Butchers Shop Gallery and The Mallow Hotel are now on show at the site as well as six new pieces created by the printmaker specifically for the project.<\/p>\n Opened by local Federal MP Catherine King, the launch saw about 250 attendees with live entertainment provided by Ballarat Lyric Theatre members.<\/p>\n Western said the title of the exhibition ties into a central theme of her work.<\/p>\n \u201cRestore Gallery is very appropriate because the main theme of my work is around conservation of the natural environment and restoration of damaged environments,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cFor Jen, her clinic is about restoration of health with hands and arms. It seemed to be such a beautiful synergy.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m also involved in emergency recovery and when I\u2019m working with communities who\u2019ve been through natural disasters, we often utilise art therapy in helping people recover from trauma and to heal.\u201d<\/p>\n With the site to serve as a permanent gallery to display Western\u2019s work, she aims to cycle through new pieces on a quarterly basis, including to extend it further into the building\u2019s back garden.<\/p>\n The gallery is open during Restore Hand Therapy\u2019s business hours or alternatively Western can be contacted to book a tour of the space via her website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" THE site of a hand therapy service in Ballarat\u2019s health precinct has seen a permanent touch of colour with the walls and outdoor garden now housing the works of linocut artist Amanda Western. Twenty-six of her prints are on display at Restore Hand Therapy on Errard Street with the creative residency launched in late February. […]<\/p>\n