Innovative project reflects life
12 March 2008
What would you like others to see about your life if it were displayed in an art gallery? That’s the challenge a group of people taking part in an innovative project at Community First Inc’s Cumberland Street Centre in Mandurah have taken on with ‘Self Reflections’.Starting with a collection of empty refrigerator cardboard boxes donated by Mandurah Fridge and Washer City, they have embarked on workshops which will include life drawing, self portraiture, the use of colour to create expression and mood, drawing and stencil development, screen printing and sound installation. All this work will culminate in an installation which will be exhibited at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre in conjunction with the Stretch Festival in May.
Community First Inc is providing workshop space and support for the participants. Funding for this innovative project has come from the development company Frasers Property and the Mandurah Murray Mayday Club. The Peel Local Area Coordination and the City of Mandurah are also supporting the project.
Mandurah artist Carolyn Marks is running 12 weeks of workshops which are repeated each Saturday morning. Some of the classes are being held at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre.
“There are 10 of these large cardboard ‘cubicles’, which are being used by the participants to create their installations. The theme of ‘Self Reflections’ is based on their own lives and experiences as they make this journey through life drawing, self portraits, screen printing and other artistic expression.
“Once the cubicle installations are completed, they will be viewed through ‘peepholes’ which will reflect the work created inside the boxes back to the viewer,” Carolyn said.
Some of those taking part in the workshops have already gained confidence by taking part in Community First’s Ability Arts program, which offers a way for people of different abilities to become part of the arts community in the region. Ability Arts began as an innovative pilot program under Federally-funded Home and Community Care (HACC), and is based on centre-based day care, with a major focus on a wellness approach. Unlike conventional day-care it allows those attending to experiment with many types of art to develop their unique talents in a supportive and highly creative environment.
Over 80 people each week have already benefited from a wide range of art and music activities offered at CFI’s Cumberland Street centre over the past year. More than 62 per cent of those taking part have severe disabilities, and the remainder have mild to moderate physical and mental disability.
Actors, artists and musicians volunteer to share their knowledge, skills and abilities based on this ‘one-stop-shop approach.’
“People who have taken part in Ability Arts have engaged with the community, their sense of isolation has been reduced and they have gained social confidence,” CFI’s Community Services Manager, Darren Whiffler said.
“This new project is giving them more opportunities for self-expression and development in a friendly setting and because it runs over a 12 week period participants are enjoying the challenges it presents,” he said.
Contact: Darren Whiffler, (08) 9582 6320; Mobile: 0439 436 905.