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Janey Barker is a local artist who teaches art at Byron Community College. She has had 12 solo exhibitions. Colour is important in her work and many pieces have richly worked textures using pastels and inks. Janey is inspired by the landscapes she’s lived in including Australian themes such as the Kimberley, villages in Italy, as well as spiritual and fantasy themes. Janey believes in arts ability to impart wonder and enrichment to people’s lives.
''There’s 1,001 ways to wash dishes'-That’s what I tell my art students, and likewise, there’s 1,001 way to validly express yourself in art. That’s why I love teaching my s’graffito and mixed media classes. They allow a multitude of approaches and serendipitous accidents. Art is an amazing tool for empowering people and I love its ability to bring joy to people’s lives. Over the past 30 years my love of art has led me to found an arts council in the Kimberly, to hold 12 solo exhibitions, to work in community art with aboriginal children and co-ordinate and organize community arts events. I’ve also created exhibitions for ‘youth at risk’ and worked with disadvantaged adult groups fostering pride and self-esteem. There’s no more richly satisfying feeling than to watch peoples face light up at the end of the day, with an 'OMG I can’t believe I did that!'