IN celebration of World Mental Health Day, local artists Kieran Roberts and Trevor Flinn will embark on a psychogeographic tour of Hamilton with their ‘pop up’ art gallery and giftshop.

Titled ‘Red Dog Gallery’, their miniature art museum and gift shop will begin its tour of Hamilton in the foyer of the Hamilton Library and Gallery on Monday, October 10; and will give passers-by the opportunity to meet the artists, see examples of their work, make an artwork, purchase postcard-sized pieces, and/or make a donation to Beyond Blue.

Kieran and Trevor, who began working together five years ago, decided that it was about time they upped the ante and have an exhibition in order to showcase recent work and engage with the public.

“You don’t see interesting things on the streets of Hamilton anymore so I was thinking it was about time someone added something new to the streetscape,” Kieran said.

The unique project, supported by the Southern Grampians Shire Council, is an opportunity for the artists to showcase their talents and engage with the public, and will culminate in a weekend Art Bazaar at Off the Rails Dunkeld on Saturday, December 3, which is International Day of People with a Disability.

“It’s a well-known fact that creating art reduces stress, and recent studies show that expression through art can help people with depression, anxiety, and can induce positive mental states,” Trevor said.

“Part of what we are attempting to do through the ‘pop up’ is to demonstrate the value of art on an individual level, but as well as a ‘show and tell’, we’d also like to invite the public to create their own artwork and have it included in our final exhibition.”

Each Thursday, from 12-1pm, the Red Dog Gallery will be appearing at a variety of interesting locations within the Hamilton CBD (and beyond) which will include: Taylor’s Tyrepower, The Hamilton Railway Station, Elizabeth Arthur Fine Art Gallery and even The Hamilton Police Station.

“The choice and variety of locations for the ‘pop-up’ was an important part of the planning of our project,” Trevor said.

“We hope that over nine weeks our little venture, which is bookended by World Mental Health Day and the International Day for People with a Disability, will bring awareness to these important issues and encourage others to follow their passion, and perhaps explore art as a powerful tool for self-care and mental health.”

To access free mental health information, advice and 24/7 support, visit beyond blue.org.au

The Red Dog Gallery launches at 12 noon on Monday, October 10, World Mental Health Day, in the Library/Gallery foyer and continues each Thursday thereafter at various location throughout Hamilton.

For a full list of venues, visit the artists’ Instagram accounts: @inlikeme @kieranrobertsartist