The Melting Pot

The Melting Pot

Opens February 9 2018

Drawing Point Gallery

Arttime Supplies

203 Brisbane St Ipswich.

A Celebration of Diversity

Disability Advocate, Artists and Poet

Invites you to Celebrate Diversity

At the opening of her exhibition

Friday 9 th February 2018

From 6 pm

Artist's Bio

Deb Chilton is a local Ipswich Artist born with CP and is a disability advocate.  In 2012 Deb was invited to be part of the Leaders for Tomorrow Program, during this program Deb elected to become a disability advocate and connect in the community through art.

As part of this program Deb commenced formal visual arts studies at Brisbane Institute of Art.  Thus combining Deb’s two passions; love for creativity and being a voice for others with disability. 

Artist's Statement

In 2013 whilst involved in the Leaders for Tomorrow Program Deb commenced studying at the Brisbane Institution of Art. In 2014 she created her first doll ‘Gabby’. Deb’s then mentor thought Gabby was more craft then art.  She still struggles with the understanding of “what is art?” and “what is craft?” and admits this current exhibition blurs the lines.

What is more important in this exhibition is to create a platform for debate on diversity and social inclusion.  For Deb good art, creates discussion and forces us to ask questions.  Art is not to answer these questions but to promote debate.

Through the journey of ‘the melting pot’ doll by doll, Deb demands a voice and a value to her work.  For each individual regardless of colour, creed, gender, beliefs or abilities add to the fabric which is woven into community.

In the mist of diversity we need to value each other.  In the exhibition Deb has chosen not to give some dolls faces.  These dolls represent the voiceless, those with disabilities is the streets of Calcutta, disregarded by society.

it was Deb’s intention to produce an exhibition to produce discussion on diversity and inclusion. Deb’s other passion is advocating for people living with disability and giving voice to the voiceless. Her dream to see a community that embraces difference and celebrates the riches, of our backgrounds can bring to the fabric of life. 

It is impossible to give a comprehensive explanation of disability and the best way to learn and dispel the many common myth is to broaden your experience. Experiencing my work, begins to breakdown some of the general myth conceptions.

I hoped this exhibition lowers your own barriers and fears relating to disability. So you can discover for yourself that disability is not less but another layer to the diversity in modern Australian society.

Many thanks to Mieke Den Otter

For documenting journey

through her camera lense.