Moriac Art Group to unveil International Women's Day exhibition

One of the mantras at Moriac Art Group is that if the artist sees their work as a masterpiece, then a masterpiece it is.

That means some masterpieces might be on show when group members present an International Women’s Day exhibition at Moriac Women’s Shed at 7pm on 3 March.

Group members have been collaborating, learning and laughing at weekly classes for almost a year, volunteer tutored by artist and former teacher Jeanette Dyson and supported by Moriac Community Network.

“We started off with six and I think we’ve got about 16 now,” Jeanette says.

“We take people from raw beginners through to watercolour and more advanced work.

“Each person has their own style and how they interpret the world, so I really want people to develop their own style.

“One of our main sayings is ‘I’m creating art that I never thought I was capable of’. It’s really interesting to watch people grow and do things that were being held back by their own sense of self.”

And as masterpieces emerge from blank pages and canvases, benefits can flow.

Jeanette says when participants are fully focused on their work, they’re not worrying about anything else.

“Once you’re in the zone it just takes over your mind and allows your mind freedom to concentrate and focus,” she says.

“I think if you’ve got some tumultuous emotions going on around you, they disappear because you can’t think about those at the same time.

“So from a mental health point of view art is very good in that way, as long as you are in a safe environment, free from judgement.”

Jeanette says exhibiting to acknowledge International Women’s Day brings special meaning.

“International Women’s Day celebrates us as women and the talents that we have. I think that’s really important because sometimes we think that we’re just this ordinary human being, but actually we’re all very extraordinary,” she says.

Council is supporting the Moriac Women’s Shed Art Exhibition among community IWD events. Find out more information via our International Women's Day page.