Meet our new Carlton Story Hubs artist, Abbey Rich!
We’re thrilled to announce that we have selected the artists who will work alongside students in our 2023 Story Hubs schools - including Abbey Rich, who is working with Carlton Primary School!
Story Hubs is 100 Story Building's innovative program that partners students, teachers and artists to build imaginative spaces in their communities, supporting them to step beyond the boundaries of the classroom, take creative risks and to become more confident, curious and engaged learners. Learn more about the program here.
Meet Abbey Rich (they/them)
Abbey Rich is a public and exhibiting artist. They’ve most interested in public space, particularly community co-designed public art making - a perfect fit with our Story Hubs ethos! - and what it means to be a trans person in public space. Their work looks at pattern, gender and environment, with a focus on being easily approachable, welcoming and appealing to many people through their use of colour, pattern and warmth.
Abbey Rich at their exhibition “Paths that don’t go where people want them to go” at MARS Gallery in Melbourne
Abbey has collaborated with children and young people before, including making murals with school students in Mordialloc, and library patrons in Hurstville. They also frequently work with other artists and organisations, including the Immigration Museum and our Footscray neighbour, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre!
We asked Abbey a few questions about becoming a Story Hubs artist.
Did you make art when you were in school?
I actually avoided it a lot but towards the end of high school I really found a love for it, spending hours and hours in my bedroom drawing and painting and collaging.
What kind of art do you make?
I make bright and fun things, sometimes with more serious ideas behind it. My favourite thing is to make murals and sculptures, especially in collaboration with other wonderful people.
Why did you apply to be part of Story Hubs?
Working with students is always the most exciting, most beautiful experience and seeing how 100 Story Building expertly run their programs made me super excited to learn from the experience and be able to contribute my own skills too!
What's most exciting about co-designing with children?
The world seems a lot more expansive when working with children, their brains are so creative and wild. The possibilities are absolutely endless and that is so exciting for the creative process and we can create something that makes us all proud.
Welcome, Abbey – we know you’re going to help the students and teachers at Carlton Primary School create something amazing!
To learn more about Abey and get to know them better, visit their website or follow them on Instagram.
