BREAST is best. That’s the message the Footscray-Yarraville branch of the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) is expressing in a Kingsville art exhibition.

The “nothing ARTificial breastmilk” display, which opened at the South Kingsville Community Centre last Friday, features more than 100 breastfeeding-themed works in a celebration of World Breastfeeding Week.

It will be launched officially on Saturday 16 August at the family-friendly time of 4pm and will feature music, face painting and balloons.

Proceeds from the exhibition will go towards the Footscray-Yarraville branch.

The ABA will also be selling a limited edition of badges with six of the works.

Exhibition co-ordinator and trainee ABA breastfeeding community educator Michal Teague said the group wanted to have positive images of breastfeeding in the community.

“Increasing our breastfeeding rates is widely recognised as a priority and this exhibition aims to raise community awareness of the importance of breastfeeding to children, mothers and families,” she said.

Mrs Teague, who breastfed her two children, Finn, 14, and Darcy, 2, joined the group three years ago and said it had been a good way to meet like-minded people.

“They’re such active, interesting, talented women and it’s been great in terms of meeting people,” she said.