NDSP Plan Managers Launches Inaugural SALA Festival Art Exhibition

NDSP’s exhibition features over 120 artworks produced by a pool of talented artists with disability in collaboration with various support coordinators and organisations that are involved in the disability community. The pieces in display include paintings, ceramics, jewellery, sculptures, digital art, and photography.

With this year’s theme of ‘Unmasked,’ the exhibition is a playful juxtaposition of two spaces: the pandemic-stricken world we are currently living in that can be limiting and isolating at times; and the creative space where people living with disability release their emotions and artistry through the arts.

The arts play an integral role in the disability sector as it enriches a person’s life, inspires creativity, and provides an opportunity to contribute to the community. NDSP recognises the participants’ life goals and supports them in achieving these goals.

To headline the exhibition is award-winning visual artist Hussain Alismail together with actor, playwright, and disability inclusion advocate Jamila Main. Their exciting collaboration in this new photo series imposes a magnifying glass to look at certain issues concerning city mobility, heritage sites, disability, and accessibility in one of the world’s ‘supposedly’ most liveable—and ‘supposedly most accessible’—city: Adelaide, South Australia.

Some of the other featured artists in the exhibition are as follows:

• Grace Lam, a multidisciplinary artist, has received the Carclew Creative Achievement Award in the 2021 Seven News Young Achiever Award. Grace has Down Syndrome, hearing impairment and vision impairment. She specialises in digital art and has started her own business, Grace’s Handmade Cards.
• Dean Wilson of Creation Within Art produces paintings that are inspired by his life and travels around Australia. His artworks feature snapshots of beautiful, rugged landscapes found in the region while capturing the cheeky personalities of various native animals.
• Assunta Focarelli was born in Italy and likes creating colourful abstract paintings. She follows the footsteps of her late father who mounted his own art exhibitions back in the 80s and 90s.
• Oliver Mills is an artist and poet. He lives with cerebral palsy. Using a specially designed equipment, and in collaboration with his poetry and art teachers, Oliver’s works offer a written and visual expression of how he sees the world.

Aside from individual participant entries, the exhibition also features group submissions and art pieces from support coordinators and disability service providers, such as Autism SA, Orana, The Art of Expression, disAbility Living, and Livability Care.

Most of the artworks are also up for sale and one hundred percent of the profits will go directly to the artists.

With the ultimate objective of engaging and connecting with the sector while navigating the challenges brought upon by the pandemic, ‘Unmasked by NDSP Art Collective’ is NDSP’s way of creating opportunities for participants while also giving back to the disability community.

Art Exhibition Details:

Unmasked by NDSP Art Collective:
A SALA Festival Art Exhibition

• Opening night: 5 August, Friday, 4pm
• Open to public: 8-12 August, Monday-Friday, 10am-2pm
• Location: NDSP Plan Managers, 38 Wayville Greenhill Rd, Wayville SA 5034
• Website: ndsp.com.au/unmasked-by-ndsp-art-collective

The art exhibition is free. Walk ins are allowed and prior bookings are not required.

To purchase any of the artworks, you may contact NDSP’s marketing team at marketing@ndsp.com.au or call us at 1800 63 63 77.