Operation Art at the Art Gallery of NSW

Operation Art’s top fifty artworks were opened at the Art Gallery of NSW on 6 October by Michael Coutts-Trotter, the Director General for the NSW Department of Education and Training.

The Director-General said, they were an “exercise in imagination and empathy through art. Who better to know what can comfort a child than another child with the special empathy of other children?” he said. Subjects are diverse and colourful, ranging from realistically drawn animals to imaginary landscapes, abstract portraits and paintings with influences from other nations.  

Self Portrait Aboriginal Influence Blue Bottle Isabel The Duck

Edmund Capon, Director of the Art Gallery of NSW praised the young artists as being the “Picassos of the future” and said a creative society was a society of optimism and hope. “These young artists are contributing positively to the lives of young people and assisting in the healing process,” he added.

The Olgas Italian Village Sailing Still Life Cubism

This year Operation Art celebrates a 15 year partnership between the NSW Department of Education & Training, the Children’s Hospital Westmead and the Art Gallery of NSW.

My Friend  Giraffe  Penguin

 Originally 665 artworks were submitted for this year’s Operation Art. All were created by school students hoping to bring a smile to the faces of sick children in hospital. These 50 fabulous artworks were selected to hang in the Art Gallery of NSW for one month before touring to regional galleries in Bathurst, Maitland, Tweed and Armidale in 2010. They will then return to the Children’s Hospital Westmead in 2011 to become part of their permanent collection.

Zebra Blue Whales Fergus The Dog

African Inspiration My Family Flame Pea

Other artworks have been selected for display at the NSW Commission for Children & Young People and also the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian. Each of those selected artworks will eventually be given to children’s wards of country or overseas hospitals while some are given to Bear Cottage at Manly.

Reflection Look closely in the rain droplet!

 Young People Creating Artworks for Children in Hospital

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