Last week saw the successful launch of the Wall Shouts & Whispers exhibition, which is currently on display at Creative Tauranga.

Wall Shouts & Whispers is a collection of 68 works from a creative group of 45 artists who currently attend Avalon Incorporated. The exhibition will be on display until May 18.

Avalon Incorporated's Wall Shouts & Whispers exhibition opened recently, and is on display at Creative Tauranga until May 18. Pictured: Avalon art facilitator Julie Saunders and business manager Tania Wilson. Photos: Millie Newitt.

Approximately 70 people attended the launch, including the artists plus their families, Tauranga City councillor Matt Cowley, and a number of guests who have important relationships with Avalon.

Business manager Tania Wilson says the opening was a wonderful evening filled with a very positive feeling and vibrant atmosphere.

'Creative Tauranga, particularly gallery curator Millie Newitt, have done an amazing job in displaying all of the art. It is beautifully hung and features each piece in a thoughtful way.

'If you get the opportunity to visit the gallery I am sure you will be impressed with the quality of the work.”

To date, 18 pieces from the exhibition have already been sold, while two members of the Avalon group have been commissioned for further works.

Tania says feedback from the guests has been extremely positive, with all of them commenting on the quality and vibrancy of the work on display.

'One guest stated that the quality of the work will help shatter some illusions about people with intellectual disability,” she adds.

'There is an immense sense of pride from the artists, and each piece is a personal expression of those artists.”

As part of the exhibition, Avalon art facilitator and full-time artist Julie Saunders has donated one of her works titled ‘Gatekeepers' to be raffled off at the end of Wall Shouts & Whispers.

The piece has a retail value of $1,200 and all funds raised by the raffle will go towards supporting the important work carried out by Avalon.

Raffle tickets cost $2 each or $5 for three and are available at Creative Tauranga.

Avalon artist Geoff Watson with his work 'Wicker Wicked Woman', one of the 18 works that was snapped up by a local art lover at the opening.

Avalon art facilitator and fulltime artist Julie Saunders' piece ‘Gatekeepers'. Photo: Avalon Inc.