MEDIA RELEASE 28 July 2005
Amazing talent of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists to be displayed at the Royal Brisbane Show once again
The amazing talent of the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPA) will once
again be demonstrated at the Royal Brisbane Show from 11 to 20 August, with two
well respected artists demonstrating their mouth painting technique. Four
talented artists from Australia have had their paintings selected for judgement
in the MFPA category amongst paintings from a number of countries including
Australasia, Europe and the United States.
Australian disabled artists Margaret Greig, Bill Mooney, John Smith and Everard
Prayta will have their paintings displayed at the show, with Margaret and John
providing a mouth painting demonstration for visitors of the show to be held at
the Fine Arts Pavillion in the Walter Burnett building.
Mackay resident John Smith, has demonstrated his talent at the Royal Brisbane
Show in the past and said that he always gets a good response from the crowd.
“The demonstration always draws a really big crowd.
“The response we get is incredible. The kids become so mesmerised that their
mums have to drag them away!” John said.
John began painting with a brush held in his mouth more than thirty years ago
after a horseback riding accident left him a quadriplegic in 1971. He also had
two paintings included in the MFPA’s 2005 mid-year greeting card range.
Margaret Greig from Londonderry in Sydney will also be demonstrating at the
Show. Margaret has been an MFPA member since 1970 and started painting with a
brush held in her mouth after polio left her a quadriplegic in her mid-teens.
Margaret has been involved with the Royal Brisbane Show for several years and is
excited to be demonstrating once again.
MFPA is a self-help organisation assisting disabled people in becoming
financially independent by selling their paintings in the form of greeting
cards, gift tags, puzzles, calendars, stationary and gift wrapping.
The international organisation was founded in 1956 by a group of mainly Swiss,
French, British and German artists who all painted without their hands. MFPA was
founded in Australia in 1970 and currently has a membership of 700 disabled
artists in over 70 countries throughout the world.
To become a Student Member an artist must qualify by painting using a brush held
in either their mouth or foot, having lost the use of their hands through an
illness or accident. Once an artist becomes a Full Member or Associate they are
guaranteed a salary for life, even if they are unable to continue painting.
For further information on the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists or to place an
order please contact MFPA on (02) 9698 3933.
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Released for MFPA by Dennis Rutzou Public Relations.
For further information contact Aleksandra Czerwinski
or Marie Tritsaris on (02) 9413 4244.
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