Autism: Mansfield Acorn artists

Extract from Hansard

Dr SYKES (Benalla) -- Last Friday night I had the pleasure of launching an online art gallery for six Mansfield artists. The six artists -- Tim Mallows, Jonathan Esser, Carl Harris, Thomas Huber, John Kostea and Kylie Hughes -- are known as the Acorn artists.

The Acorn artists are members of a group of local young people with autism who, under the guidance of Joan Curtis and many other caring Mansfield people, have developed their unique artistic talents. The work of Acorn artists has been exhibited at the National Gallery of Victoria and the Benalla Regional Art Gallery.

Their art hangs in places such as Wangaratta, Sydney, Canberra and San Francisco. As Joan Curtis said, 'They have a unique vision of the world; they don't look at things the way other people look at them'.

The online website has been developed by New Zealand internet Web design and Web marketing specialists Niche Design, and Rachael Errington in particular. Rachael is both talented and very passionate about the marketing of the Acorn artists' work, and the website is simple and user friendly.

Rachael will be operating the site at no cost to the artists. I encourage members to visit the website at www.acornartists.com, view the paintings and of course purchase one or more. I have put my money where my mouth is by purchasing a painting by Tim Mallows entitled Water Waves. Tim's painting is a welcome addition to paintings I have previously purchased from Jonathan Esser, Carl Harris and Kylie Hughes.

Congratulations to all who have been involved in making the Acorn artist website a reality.