Art from the heart
- Release Date: 5/10/2006
- Media Contact: Miranda Hunt 0410 417 790
Today, Monday 9 October at 11am Mater Kids in Mind will officially launch a unique art exhibition to celebrate Mental Health Week (8-14 October) to showcase some of their patient's artistic talents.
Twelve artefacts including drawings, paintings, sculptures, murals and photography will be on show for the general public in a week-long exhibition being held at Mater.
This exhibition showcases the creative works of several patients from Mater Kids in Mind patient ward and day program located at Mater Children's Hospital.
Young patients have collaborated over the last four years in their art therapy sessions to create these pieces of art in keeping with this year's Mental Health Week theme “Link Up for Life: Get Back Out There”.
According to Mater Art Therapist, Claire Edwards, art therapy is used in conjunction with more formal models of care to aid young people in exploring their feelings, emotions, conflict and relationship issues in a safe environment.
“Art Therapy is a very useful medium for expression, especially for young people who may be having difficulty communicating verbally for various reasons.
“For many of our patients art has given them a voice and a wonderful opportunity to freely express and communicate their experiences to the rest of the community.
“Each art work on display in this exhibition has a very special meaning and is a tangible representation of a patient's feelings and thoughts.
“This exhibition also gives the viewer an insight into the young person's world and what he or she may be going through in this period of their life,” Ms Edwards said.
The purpose of this exhibition is to promote understanding and awareness about mental illness and Mental Health Week, as well as increasing the profile of art as a therapeutic tool.
The art exhibition will run from 9–13 October and is open to the public between the hours of 12:30pm to 2:30pm each day on level two of Mater Community Services Building, Annerley Road, South Brisbane.
Mater Kids in Mind encompasses Mater Child and Youth Mental Health, which is a free service to young people under the age of 18 years who are currently experiencing problems relating to stress, depression, anxiety, problems, relationship and family problems.
Mental Health Week aims to promote mental health, recovery and understanding, while reducing the stigma and discrimination of people suffering with a mental illness.
For further information on the exhibition or Mater Kids in Mind, please phone +61 7 3840 8000 or visit www.kidsinmind.org.au