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Art About
Art About is an artist-led organisation. They create experiences that allow people in a wide variety of public spheres to become more aware of art and how it applies to their lives. They place artists into the community to work with people in many different contexts.
| OPA is Art About's recent project, in Girvan. OPA is a collaboration between two practising artists and 15 members of Girvan's community who are aged 60 plus. The final artwork is an un-preconceived evolution of ideas and responses. From 27 September until 23 October 2005 a series of texts remained dispersed throughout Girvan in a variety of ways: |
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from prominent street banners to the bold replacement of the national flag, whilst others had a more subtle presence within a park flowerbed and on a café mug. |
| Individuals developed their own piece of text by abstracting or reinterpreting a chosen phrase or message. The visual style, format and location of each have been carefully considered by, and in line with, the intentions of the author. |
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Designed with the reader in mind, some of the texts appear clear in their intention and other project multiple meanings. There are 15 texts: each has been given its own place within Girvan in which to be read. The making and installing of the work within Girvan involved the further collaboration of many people. |
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Rachel O'Neil and Pamela Van de Brug have collaborated on many projects. They co-founded Art About in 2002 in order to make work that directly engages with non-artists and artists. The making and installing of the work within Girvan has involved the further collaboration of many people. Participating artists include: Ray Parry, Maureen Morton, Morag MacDonald, Pauline Komiski, Tom Honey, Elieen Honey, Pat Shields, Elizabeth Dunlop, Bert Dunlop, Angus MacPherson, May MacPherson, Robert Wright, Jean Horsley and Molly Collinge. |
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| During the period of the installation the work and responses to it were captured through film by Jonny Byrne. The film will be shown in the exhibition of OPA at Maclaurin Galleries, Rozelle Park, Ayr, from 22 November until 22 December and then at The McKechnie Institute, in Girvan from 14 January until 25 February 2006. | |
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