Arts out of the woods

Luca Taylor D'Aquino creates art with a skateboard. (Damjan Janevski) 231730_04

After a year of restricted access due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Woods Street Arts Space in Laverton has reopened with a new program.

The program includes skate art, Samoan dance, Hungarian embroidery, pottery, painting and printing, provided for free or low cost.

Performprint will be running the skate art workshop on April 9, where young people can create art with items such as skateboard wheels.

Other sessions are ongoing, including monthly creative workshops for young people aged one to 15 and free Friday night performances by the Cook Island F7 Soul Drummers and Dance

Troupe.

Hobsons Bay council took over the lease of the former post office building at 44 Woods Street in 2012, to activate the space with art.

Councillor Diana Grima said the program had something for everyone, from exhibitions to hands-on, practical classes.

“Hobsons Bay is really proud of its reputation as a creative city and I was privileged to see the old post office become the Woods Street Arts Space and to be at its opening with Cr [Tony] Briffa and my dad and former councillor John Hogg,” she said.

“Having the Woods Street Art Space back gives us an opportunity to celebrate the amazing culture here in a really central Laverton location.”

There are workshops about sustainability and the local environment, including the Habitat Gardens initiative which provides free native plants for local residents.

The program runs until July.

View the program at www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/woodsstreetarts