“The Luminosity Series”
Maria Dimopoulos, Frank Iaquinto, Helen Henwood, Carmel Mancino, Jeff McNeill, Michelle Chaney and Pascal Silence
23 Aug → 26 Nov 2025
Window
Opening celebration, 19 Sept, 6 – 8 am
Over the Spring months, Arts Access Victoria presents a West Space Window series showcasing the artists in their studio program.
Across seven distinct presentations, The Luminosity Series amplifies the diverse work by Deaf and Disabled Artists in the AAV Artist Studios in Collingwood Yards: Maria Dimopoulos, Frank Iaquinto, Helen Henwood, Carmel Mancino, Jeff McNeill, Michelle Chaney, and Pascal Silence.
Shining a light on Disability Culture, The Luminosity Series explores themes of place, connection, family and imagination. Dreams, realities, hopes and fears are seen alongside the resilience and pride that comes with living with authenticity and visibility.
AAV Artist Mentors: Betra Fraval, Alister Karl, Dave Van De Leur.
Program
Opening celebration:
Saturday 19 September, 4 → 6pm
Maria Dimopoulos, 23 August → 4 September
Frank Iaquinto, 6 → 18 September
Helen Henwood, 20 September → 2 October
Carmel Mancino, 4 → 16 October
Jeff McNeill, 18 October → 13 November
Pascal Silence, 16 → 26 November
Arts Access Victoria is peak body for arts and disability in this state with a history stretching back over fifty years. A disability-led organisation, AAV are leading the continued development of a vibrant arts and cultural sector that reflects our society in every way.
The West Space Window is our micro-project space on the facade of the gallery. The Window program provides a platform for early career artists to experiment with scale and introduce their work to new audiences.
This series is presented with the support of the City of Yarra.
Maria Dimopoulos is a Greek Australian Writer, Visual Artist, and Mental Health Advocate born in Naarm/Melbourne. At the age of 17, Mary was persuaded by her art teacher to apply for a fine art degree, and she also studied Art Curatorship and Museum Management. She is now an artist in residence at Schitzy Incorporated is part of Mayfield Ceramic Studio, and continues to be a mental health advocate — passionate about all three areas. Mary's life philosophy is: "Experienced Life Do What You Love, Have a Balance".
Frank Iaquinto.
Frank Iaquinto is a passionate artist who takes inspiration from old masters, stories and myths and his heroes in life. He has dabbled in painting for some years but is now a focused artist with a practice that is now a regular part of his week.
Frank Iaquinto has been supported and guided in focusing his practice through his mentorship with Arts Access Victoria, working with mentor Alister Karl.
Instagram: @francesco_Iaquinto_artist
Helen Henwood is a Melbourne-based mixed media artist, working with digital printing, printmaking, drawing, paper-making, and textiles. Drawing on her fashion background from the 90’s, she combines analogue and digital techniques. Henwood weaves handmade Momigami paper, digital printing and delicate hand-drawn elements into her layered works. She has refined her skills through studies with traditional craftspeople, learning techniques such as Momigami, printmaking, and polymer clay with artist Dan Cormier. She is currently working with Arts Access Victoria at Collingwood Yards under the mentorship of established artist and educator Betra Fraval. She has recently exhibited at Red Gallery, Melbourne, and the MS Society in 2025, 2019 and 2018. Living with MS since the age of 18, Helen has found her unique way to connect with materials and express her experience of adaptability and transformation.
Carmel Mancino is a Naarm/Melbourne based artist and member of the AAV Artist Mentorship Program.
Jeff McNeill lost his Sight in 1965 due to corticosteroid induced glaucoma whilst he was in Primary School, Grade 4. Jeff’s work is a mirroring of his life experiences and interpretations set down on canvas. Jeff explains, “the process of formulating the painting materialises my experiences of my subject in a physical way. My Paintings are symbolic of my responses and interpretations of real life not abstract, not photographic reality, nor fine art, but my own interpretations of my life on canvas.”
Michelle Chaney is a Naarm/Melbourne based artist and member of the AAV Artist Mentorship Program.
Pascal Silence is a Naarm/Melbourne based artist and member of the AAV Artist Mentorship Program.