Art for the young and young at heart has found a new home in Footscray.
A new gallery – called ‘little … No BIG’ – is the brainchild of Seddon artist Annee Miron, who describes it as “a little gallery with big ideas”.
“Our goal is to showcase contemporary art that engages children, and builds their capacity to explore, discuss and analyse visual culture,” she said.
“It’s not just for kids, it’s for helping adults develop the skills to talk about art with their kids.”
A new artwork will be displayed each month in a window box gallery, accompanied by a take-home information card with prompter questions.
The first exhibition selected for the space is Journey, a pop-up book created by artist Anne Kucera.
“I’m a visual artist primarily working with paper, I have been making paper artwork for the last five or six years,” Kucera said.
She creates each work by hand, weaving dream-like imagery into surreal landscapes.
“It’s creatively challenging, but satisfying as well. I don’t gear them towards kids, but I know kids and adults alike find them fascinating.”
Kucera said people may think of pop-up books as a relic of childhood, but they have a rich history, and are much-loved by readers of all ages.
“Our generation may think of them as being for children, but they have actually been around in astronomy and anatomy and theology for a long time.”
Kucera said she loves the idea of a gallery aimed at children and is honoured to be the first exhibiting artist at little … No BIG.
Miron said feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and she has been pleased to see children take advantage of the lower setting to linger with Kucera’s artwork.
The gallery is located on Level 1, 119 Hopkins Street, Footscray, also home to the Trocadero Art Space, Five Walls, 5×5 and Arcade galleries.
Further details: www.facebook.com/little.NoBIG
