Embedded Files
Participants of Northern Rivers Arts Health & Wellbeing Inc's
1st Creativity and Wellness Workshop
"Conversations Through Art"
- Conversations
7th JULY 2012: Opening of the group exhibition
Conversations
on Saturday at 1pm.
Northern Rivers
Arts Health and Wellbeing (NRAHW) Inc
invites you to the opening of
Conversations
- an exhibition of expressive works
created using art,
music, writing and meditation
over a series of 10 workshops
by people living with cancer.
Official opening by
Lismore Mayor Jenny Dowell.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
Light refreshments available.
On view until 16th July.
Art helps cancer survivors healby Samantha TurnbullABC Online - 28th June 2012An art exhibition featuring works created by people living with cancer is about to open in Lismore.Image by Samantha Turnbull, ABC
When Lismore artist Tammy Allen (pictured) was diagnosed with skin cancer eight months ago, she managed to recover physically but needed emotional help.
She heard about a program being run by Northern Rivers Arts Health and Wellbeing and decided to give it a try.
Expressive works
Group 'Mandala'
Statement
Towards the end of the workshops,
all present contributed to a group message
which expressed our interconnections and
individual feelings at this one point in time.
Standing around a large piece of paper
with a large circle drawn in the middle,
oil pastels in hands,
we started drawing in our own ‘sections’.
I instructed us to ‘not think’ but to follow a feeling.
Also, I made a tentative time limit of 20 minutes
to complete our mandala. The medium we used
also encouraged rapid expression.
At certain times people moved around the image
away from their original position in the mandala,
swapping places to respond to each other,
creating layers and developing new ideas.
The energy seemed to gather momentum and,
not even watching the time,
there was a consensus about
when it was finished.
I found it a wonderful and uniting experience
and how the whole group felt
is shown in the image.
- Liz Dowling, facilitator,
July 2012
'Mandala'
Mixed media
by the "Conversations Through Art" group
Available as a blank card with envelope
@ $3 each (postage not included)
- proceeds to NRAHW: please contact the Serpentine.
'No Pink Ladies Here'
Pencil and shellac on paper
'Struggling'
Acrylic on canvas
by Tammy Allen
'Feeling the Elements'
Terracotta, glazes
by Corinne Batt-Rawden
Untitled
Acrylic on canvas
by workshop facilitator Arne Schafsma
'Life's Precious
But Things Aren't'
Clay, fired in the furnace
by Deborah Murray-Kippax
'Wish Balls'
Clay, underglaze, colours, glaze
by workshop participants
'Wish Ball'
Terracotta, burnished,
sawdust-seaweed-cowpat fired
by Penny Moore
'The Faceless Feline'
Terracotta, underglaze, colour, glaze
'Bowl'
Terracotta, burnishing, glaze
'Release'
Text and acrylic on canvas
by Tammy Allen
'Mask'
Terracotta, slip, glaze
'Stoic Landscape'
Acrylic on canvas
'Diagnosis'
Acrylic on canvas
by Penny Moore
'After the Fire'
'Dome of Sanity'
'Turn Around'
Mixed media on canvas works by by Deborah Murray-Kippax
Artist Statement
'One of the important things in my recovery
was to walk along the country road
where I live with the guideposts
becoming my measure of wellness.
I loved these walks
that connected me to nature and
I collected little treasures along the way.'
- Dawn Thirlaway, July 2012
'Walking 1' and 'Walking 2' - Crayons and ink on paper
'Inspirational T-Shirts'
Texta, watercolour on paper by Penny Moore
'Unconditional Love' - Crayon on paper
Artist Statement
'It only takes a few words and your life changes forever.
Aggressive, Infiltrative, Immediate surgery.
The shock was like taking a breath and not being able to let it out.
I was engulfed with a fear so great that all I could do was curl up and cry.
But
I had two beautiful souls I had to fight for.
I fell apart after being diagnosed with a second cancer. While not as aggressive it was still cruel.
But
The gentle touch of my daughter stroking my hair,
the brilliant smile my son would have for me when he saw me.
I didn’t care about the scaring or losing my hair.
The precious life of my children is what I fought for.
My work is not about the cancer. It’s gone now. It’s about healing, overcoming fears,
inner strength, gaining confidence, new faces and taking control.
These works are dedicated to all my family and friends who, with their love and support,
made a dark time in my life shine brighter.
Thank you
I am happy
I have my precious soul’s xx'
- Tammy Allen, July 2012
Untitled
Terracotta
'Layers'
Mixed media
'Mask'
Terracotta
Anon - various artists
'Contour line drawing exercise'
'Old Critical Me'
Pencil, crayon, goldleaf on paper
Artist Statement
'Cancer undid me
- but the good news is I get to sew myself up in a way I can live with
- not how the rest of the world
wants me to be.'
Deborah Murray-Kippax
July 2012
Artist Statement
'After receiving
the latest cancer diagnosis
in January I went to my studio
and worked with the clay.
This was the first time I had
such an immediate
therapy session with myself,
and what came out was fascinating.
The words on the clay
came out the day I received
the results of the PET scan.'
Dawn Thirlaway, July 2012
'Raw' - Terracotta, glaze
NRAHW's version of 'With A Little Help From My Friends'
- music from Conversation's week 8 workshop
'Bowl 1'
'Bowl 4'
'Bowl 2'
'Pot'
'Bowl 3'
'Potplant'
Terracotta works, burnished and sawdust-seaweed-cowpat fired
by Penny Moore
'Lily'
White earthenware, glaze
by Penny Moore
'Conversations 1' & 'Conversations 2'
Oil pastel, pencil, ink, goldleaf, paint, porcelain, feathers and yarn on canvas
Artist Statement
In the first of Kerrie Divett’s drawing sessions
we learnt ‘contour’ drawing where you follow
the line of your face with one hand whilst drawing with the other.
After adding some paint and gold leaf I had the urge
to cut the drawing in half, which I resisted until arriving home
The drawing was cut, glued to a canvas,
then some porcelain, feathers and yarn were added.
A few weeks later I understood that cutting the drawing in half represented
the conflict in my mind regarding medical treatment.
Part of me did not want this radiotherapy
and another part of me was quite fine about what was recommended.
It’s amazing how our unconscious can use the creative process
to process information, feelings and emotions.
- Dawn Thirlaway, July 2012
'Pinch It Out'
Terracotta, sawdust fired
by Corinne Batt-Rawden
'Tool Box'
Terracotta, glaze
by Corinne Batt-Rawden
Artist Statement
The palette knife was a new discovery for me
in Corinne’s expressive painting session.
I could move paint around the canvas
in a way that is not possible with a brush.
To add a blob of colour
and spread it to blend with other colours
was for me having a conversation
with my inner self.
I added the lines later to represent
the radiotherapy hitting my physical body.
- Dawn Thirlaway, July 2012
'Upgrade' - Acrylic, pen on canvas
The opening celebration
Everyone gathers for the opening speeches.
With her own personal experience of cancer, the Northern Rivers Arts Health and Wellbeing project
is one close to the heart of the day's first speaker Lismore Mayor and
spokesperson for the Northern Rivers region Cancer Council Jenny Dowell.
NRAHW Media Officer Janet Grist was next to speak followed by
Dr Marie Bracker opening Transmutation, a combined exhibition by Dawn Thirlaway and
Amber Louise, showing concurrently in Gallery 2.
Many conversations and hugs, and much laughter filled the gallery.
A moment for art appreciation and a chance to get a deeper understanding
of the works as artists' statements are read.
Arne provides a gentle musical backing for the event.
Festive flowers and lots of tasty food for all to enjoy.
Spicy mulled wine and warming pumpkin soup with cornbread
are a hit - Could we have the recipes please?
The new 'Cycle II' works in the gallery's Rotations Gift Shop draw interest.
* Exhibition and artwork images by Amber Louise, Christine Devine, Shaun C Murphy and Sue Alford.*
About NRAHW Inc
Northern Rivers Arts Health and Wellbeing is a new organisation
that has been born out of the need to link
arts practice and wellbeing in the Northern Rivers.
Incorporated Nov 2011, NRAHW is currently run by a steering
committee who is made up of local medical professional,
journalist, director of the local gallery, and arts facilitators
and artists. This group is creating a directory of local artists,
medical services and community health organisations.
Through connecting creativity and wellbeing in our community, NRAHW aims to improve the quality of life for people experiencing ill health through activities using creative art forms. NRAHW networks and collaborates with social services, health services
and arts practitioners to achieve a holistic approach.
This is our first arts project and we are all excited :)
This is a pilot program that NRAHW is developing which could be
modified to suit specific groups as needed. Basically this project
is founded on providing professional arts tuition to ultimately
provide an experience that belongs to the participant
at a time when they feel out of control of their lives.
The Arts provides an avenue for healing
and the exploration of social and personal issues.
This project aims to bridge the gap between
arts health and wellbeing in the Northern Rivers.
Project consists of 20 art sessions comprising of music therapy,
clay work, drawing, expressive painting and creative writing.
All working towards an exhibition which will be on show at the
Lismore Regional Gallery, the Serpentine Gallery
and the Cancer Unit at the Lismore Base Hospital,
ensuring that these stories are shared.
Creative expressions from
Conversations
- Connecting Creativity and Wellbeing in our Community -
Northern Rivers Arts Health & Wellbeing Inc
PO Box 5026, East Lismore NSW 2480
For more information about NRAHW -
e: info@nrahw.net
fb: facebook.com/groups/273399726022616/
SERPENTINE COMMUNITY GALLERY
17 Bridge St, North Lismore, NSW, 2480.
Contact (02) 6621 6845 or serpentineartsgallery@gmail.com
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