Roomies 08 Exhibition Article from the Glebe

the article "Creativity from the Margins" by Lana Lam, featured in this week's Glebe and is reproduced in full below.

 

Natalie McCarthy from Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, artist Janet Barker and Codfather owner Ross Godfrey are proud of the Roomies art exhibition. Picture: DANNY AARONS PP202869

FINE food, goodwill and art come together this week at a unique exhibition of creative works from people who are either homeless or living in boarding houses.
The show, which features works from residents living in boarding houses in Marrickville, opens Thursday (Oct 16) and will run until this Sunday (Oct 19).
The artists have created their works at the Roomies art space at the Addison Rd Centre.
The community art space, funded by StreetSmart and managed by the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, is for boarding house residents and artists with mental illnesses or disabilities, allowing them to develop their art in a safe and supported environment.
For the past few years, StreetSmart, an organisation which supports grassroots community organisations helping the homeless, has worked with inner-west restaurants to raise money for local projects such as Roomies.
In the lead-up to Christmas, diners at restaurants such as The Codfather, Oscillate Wildly and Perama, are asked to donate a few dollars to StreetSmart projects.
Ross Godfrey, who co-owns The Codfather in Stanmore, said the innovative collaboration filled a void. “We see enough need in the Newtown area,” he said.
“There’s only been one table in two years that’s said no. Coming up to Christmas, some people put in an extra $20.”
Artist Janet Barker has lived in a Marrickville boarding house for about three years.
Her work, titled Solar, features on the marketing material for the show. “It’s a house I dreamt I was in,” she told The Glebe.
Every fortnight, she spends time at Roomies, creating art and learning about new mediums such as print-making.
“I like to draw. It allows me to be creative and it calms me,” she said.
The Sydney Street Choir, another StreetSmart-funded project, will perform at the opening tonight.
Roomies will also run a special workshop on Friday, October 17, from 11am to 2pm.

Roomies Artspace Strategic Plan for 2008

1. continue fortnightly roomies art class Boarding House Project
   
2. annual exhibition Roomies Coordinator and Advisory Board
   
3. create/continue roomies advisory board Roomies Coordinator
   
4. keep roomies artspace open Advisory Board
   
5. extend vol links with roomies artists Roomies Coordinator
6. run art classes Roomies Coordinator
7. merchandise roomies stuff Advisory Board
   
8. outsider art at newtown festival
   
9. outsider art on the road

1. Fortnightly Roomies Art Class
Securely HACC funded, although costs are increasing. Class can be held anywhere if Roomies Artspace has to shut.

2. Annual Exhibition
Fantastic showcase for roomies work and provides funds for artists which they greatly appreciate. Funding for exhibition needs to be sourced (approx $5,000 pa). Smaller exhibition being planned mid year for 2008 due to the next exhibition being at Parliament House early in 2009. The Boarding House Project and Newtown Neighbourhood Centre have previously funded the exhibition but are unable to guarantee 2008 onwards.

3. Roomies Advisory Board
We need to focus our willing and interested friends to achievable outcomes. We have 1 day/week coordinator funding for the first half of 2008 and will use it to generate as much funds and as many linkages as possible. In particular, the Roomies Coordinator's job is to revitalise the Roomies Advisory Board to share the work load. Items 2, 4 and 7 are the Advisory Board's primary agenda!

4. Keep Roomies Artspace Open
The Boarding House Project and Newtown Neighbourhood Centre have been funding the artspace but cannot continue indefinitely. Funding currently exists only until mid 2008. A strong strategic and marketing plan will help us to continue seeking outside funds and partnerships. We have a great profile and relationships already with Addison Rd Centre, Addison Rd Gallery, Marrickville Council, Accessible Arts and Pine St Creative Arts Centre. Roomies is ideally situated for artists from a number of local boarding houses, and we know that travel and lack of motivation are issues the artists face, so we want to minimise change, keeping the Artspace going at Addison Rd as long as we can.

5. Extend Volunteer Linkages
One coordinator hour can generate 4 hours of face to face volunteer art worker/artist linkage. Volunteers require support and assistance. Paperwork and training needs to be properly provided. New volunteers need to be found and followed up! Items 2, 3, 5 and 6 are the Coordinator's primary agenda.

Roomies Exhibition 2007

More than 300 people attended the exhibition which ran for 2 weeks at the Addison Rd Gallery

Our sale percentage continues to improve with every artist selling something and some artists selling everything! The quality of presentation of works has improved and allows a higher price to be charged. Roomies artists are looking forward to spending their earnings and are planning works for the next exhibition.

In 2008, there is likely to only be a small print exhibition as the 2009 exhibition at Parliament House will be held early in the year.

Short History of Roomies Artspace

ROOMIES ARTSPACE started as a series of art workshops in Inner West boarding houses conducted in 1996 and 1997 by KANCAM (later Inner West Cultural Services). In 1999, this developed into fortnightly workshops at the Tom Foster Community Centre in Newtown under the aegis of Newtown Neighbourhood Centre's Boarding House Project.

This award winning art group has had several sell out exhibitions since 1999 and it has long been a dream of the artists and art workers (many of whom are volunteers) to have a space of their own. ROOMIES are people with mental illnesses or disabilities who live in the community in a boarding house. ROOMIES have very little money, they share rooms and often clothing and personal possessions. They have very little privacy and no space to themselves.

With the assistance of Addison Rd Gallery and Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, ROOMIES ARTSPACE was founded at the Addison Rd Community Centre in an old army hut. ROOMIES ARTSPACE was officially opened in October 2005 by Archibald prize winning artist Cherry Hood, with a sellout exhibition and a highly enjoyable opening party.