By Kyra Gillespie
Pakenham artist Jenni L. Ivins has just wrapped up her Mind Drawing Children’s Stories touring project.
The touring project covering Casey, Cardinia, Yarra Ranges and the shire of Moyne, included an exhibition of Ms Ivin’s work, activities, workshops, and community collaborative drawings.
The collaborative drawings were created across the four different municipalities.
“For each area I toured, we did a different community collaborative drawing. People have been rapt to have their own work seen and to see how their art looks in the collaboration,” Ms Ivins said.
“It’s a great way of engaging communities and really interesting to see how the drawing varies across the different areas too.
The tour project was at the South Eastern Contemporary Art Network (SECAN) venue, Gate 6 Gallery, which has been recently upgraded with the support of the Cardinia Shire Council and City of Casey.
Mind Drawing is an ambiguous art form that toys with perspective and interpretation.
“A Mind Drawing is a detailed picture in which lines can be read in more than one way. This may cause two people looking at the same work to give totally different answers when asked what they see.
“Each of us finds our own meanings in what we perceive in the world around us, and often, people are not aware of the possibility that others might not see as they do. This is where Mind Drawings are extremely valuable. They provide opportunities to show people we don’t all see the same way.”
Ms Ivin encourages freedom and fluidity when she teaches drawing.
“Often when you are drawing, you start off doing one thing that then leads to something completely different.
“I often tell my students that when they start to see something else in their drawing, then go that way- go with the something else. That way, they end up drawing what they can draw and what they want to draw, rather than what they think they have to draw.
For Ms Ivin, art is for absolutely everybody.
“My mission is to make art accessible to the everyday person, which is something I didn’t have when I was young.
“Art is about having your own opinions and believing in yourself.”
As a mother and a grandmother, Ms Ivin has experienced firsthand the difficulty of balancing motherhood with personal passions.
“So many women lose their identity because they’re busy being someone’s mother, and in turn lost their confidence in themselves and don’t take the time to do the things they love.”
Through her art workshops, Ms Ivin hopes to inspire more individuals to connect with their inner artist.
“I love working with the community, helping other people explore art and experiment. It’s about having fun while doing it and just embracing life.
“I love watching people gaining back the confidence they had lost along the way.”
When Ms Ivin first moved to Pakenham in the 1990’s, art was the one thing that made her feel welcome.
“The art groups around here are what made me feel at home in Pakenham when we first moved in the early nineties. It made me feel like I belonged.
“Pakenham only had a population of about eight thousand back then, so it’s been really nice to watch it grow.”
