Monte Lupo

Creativity and personal expression are part of a day's work for the artists at Monte Lupo.

Brett Patzwald, Peter Hughes and Fiona Bell are 3 of 10 artists who create art, giftware and pottery for Monte Lupo. Items are sold to the public in a gallery beside the studio, and the artists create items for government and corporate clients and attend exhibitions throughout the year.

Monte Lupo is a Supported employment service—receiving funding from the Australian Government to provide paid employment opportunities for people with a disability or a mental illness. The artists have flexible employment conditions, and a wage assessment tool is used to work out their pay.

Using their creativity, learning new skills and participating in routine tasks are essential to the success that Brett, Peter and Fiona enjoy at work.

The artists are involved in all stages of creating products—from unloading and mixing clay to cleaning and decorating pots and packaging and shipping items.

Each artist has a unique personal style, and they draw on different inspirations.

Brett has an eye for detail and has previously been inspired by figures in popular video games such as Street Fighter.

Pete is a fast sketcher, loves incorporating text and has drawn on his feelings about the Queensland floods and cyclone and other disasters in his art.

Fiona decorates her designs in bold shades such as red and black, and uses stripes and sgraffito—a style that involves layering and then scratching over an initial surface-to create distinctive patterns.

The artists are given workplace training on topics such as health and safety, cultural awareness, following a code of conduct and building relationships.

Isaac Patmore, the manufacturing coordinator at Monte Lupo, delivers some of the sessions. He explains: ‘It is about seeing the strengths of the artists and enhancing these strengths.'

Being encouraged and supported at work has given Brett, Pete and Fiona a sense of purpose.

‘You get sick of sitting at home doing nothing,' Brett says. ‘You've got to do something. This gives you a sense of satisfaction.'

Pete's commitment is seen in how he is regularly the last employee to leave-even after several years of working at the studio.

‘I do lots of drawing,' he says. ‘I love it.'

Fiona has a strong awareness of her surroundings. When she joined the team, she refused to shake hands and found it difficult being close to colleagues in the studio.

Working as part of a team has helped her to develop her social skills.