The Araluen Arts Centre will present Community: The People of the School, a solo exhibition by Alice Springs artist Al Strangeways.

Araluen Arts Centre director Tim Rollason said the artworks featured in the exhibition explore and present the people of the Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) Catholic Education Centre, where Strangeways has worked since 2010.

“Strangeways’ paintings are an observation and meditation on the identities of the community of the school and the effect of this sense of community on school life,” Mr Rollason said.

“Discussions with her colleagues about what constituted the school community and the importance of the relationship amongst its members led to Strangeways’ interest in exploring this further through her art.

“Some of the people in the paintings shared their stories, relationships and feelings about the school community, allowing Strangeways to explore ways of adding perspectives, other than her own as the artist, to her works.

“From these conversations, Strangeways has incorporated words and phrases from her subjects into the visual image to exhibit their voice, memories, experiences and hopes.”

Community: The People of the School will open in the Sitzler Gallery at the Araluen Art Centre at 6pm Thursday, 2 April with guest speaker Lesley Eastwell.

The exhibition will run from Saturday, 4 April to Sunday, 10 May 2015.

For more information, log onto www.araluenartscentre.nt.gov.au or ‘like’ the Araluen Arts Centre on Facebook.

The Araluen Cultural Precinct is the central arts and cultural hub in Alice Springs, boasting an Art House Cinema, Theatre, Art Gallery and Museum, the Cultural Precinct is a great place to visit whether you’re a local or just passing through.

Ends

Media note - for more information please contact Tim Rollason on 8951 1126 or Al Strangeways on 0400 846 339 or 8959 5229.

Image: Al Strangeways, Juanita’s Yes, 2015, oil on canvas