Phoenix Wilson is “jumpy” happy.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He is standing in a room lit with brilliant white light and the walls in Manning Regional Art Gallery are coloured with canvas art created by children.
This week Phoenix saw his art on the wall for the first time and proudly pointed to show his mother, Starsha Worth. Smiling as she listens to him speak about his art, she says that “he’s really into fairies at the moment.”
“Fairy Garden is my favourite painting but I like Lily Sparkles, I put sparkles on the love hearts,” Phoenix said.
“I tried to make it more sunnier but I got a spot on it so I put a sparkly heart on it so no-one would know it is there. It’s beautiful.”
It is the fifth year that Phoenix has unleashed his creativity on a canvas for the Child Care Services Taree & Districts Children’s Week Art Exhibition. It will be his last, says Starsha, “before he goes off to big school.”
It is the 10th year of the art exhibition and it is celebrated by children and their families. The 10th anniversary also coincides with Child Care Services Taree & Districts, Mission Australia, Uniting, Manning Support Services and Biripi celebrating a decade of providing Communities for Children programs in Taree, Forster and Gloucester.
“We always get a fantastic response to the Children’s Week exhibition, with families and friends of our exhibiting artists coming along to show their support,” explains Rachel Piercy, acting art gallery director.
“It’s a delight to see the innate creativity of the children in our community, whose artworks are not only bursting with imagination, but a celebration of colour and childhood innocence.”
The first Children’s Week art exhibition was held in Taree City Centre mall in 2006, when according to Julie Higgins, operations manager for Child Care Services Taree & Districts, “we made a commitment to celebrate Children’s Week and acknowledge its importance in our local community”. Ten years on and the exhibition continues to grow in popularity.
“It is about celebrating communities and children from all walks of life and from all child care services in the area.”
Julie says the exhibition is a collaboration between Child Care Services Taree & Districts, Manning Regional Art Gallery and Mission Australia Communities for Children.
“Child Care Services Taree & Districts organise and run it, the gallery provides a beautiful space for us and Communities for Children staff help us in the lead up and provide financial support.”
The Children’s Week Art Exhibition runs through to Sunday 30 October. For more information phone Child Care Services Taree & Districts on 6552 5088 or visitwww.manningregionalartgallery.com.au