A NEW exhibition showcasing the work of artists with disabilities has been inundated with entrants for its inaugural Warrnambool show.
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Artists were eager to offer the meanings behind their brush strokes, drawings, photos and sculptures at the show's opening on Wednesday night.
Disability support organisation genU hosted the exhibition called artX on behalf of the 45 south-west artists, a number who exceeded the agency's first-time exhibitions in Geelong and Melbourne, general manager Julie Graham said.
"It took us a long time to get to this many entries in other exhibitions," Ms Graham said. "We bring together so many different mediums and talents."
Terang artist Dean Saunders has painted a soccer ball alongside co-ordinated team colours. He said the inspiration came while watching his nephew Oliver play soccer in Warrnambool on Sundays.
Saunders, who paints every Thursday, said the painting expressed "fun".
Warrnambool artist Rhiannon Newman's portrait of country singer Adam Harvey also features in the exhibition.
Newman hosted a solo-exhibition at Fletcher Jones' Outlaw Gallery this year and all of her paintings have enlarged eyes deliberately lacking eyelids, a "trademark" of hers.
Ms Graham awarded Terang artist Brian Nash with a highly commended award for his acrylic, wood and string artwork Hay Season, and Colac's Melissa Bath won the exhibition's top prize for her ink-pen work Photo Shoot Camera Model.
"Any artist wants to have their work exhibited," Ms Graham said.
"For some it's an outlet for their expression, a hobby, an activity ... It can be something they do to express something going on in their lives."
The exhibition will be at the Lighthouse Theatre until October 2.
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