Wellways participants have proudly contributed to a group art exhibition called ‘Here I Am’ at Three Capes Gallery in Portland, Victoria. Creating the large-scale works, as a collective, was part of their recovery journey that uses art therapy and community connection to improve wellbeing.
“One of the powers of working in the communities where we live, and participants live, and being a part of that, I think is seeing the relationships and friendships building in the groups,” said Jessica Brugmans, Early Intervention Psychosocial Support Response Team Leader at Wellways.
Jessica initially reached out to Artist and Owner of Three Capes Gallery, Rory Carter, to collaborate with Wellways and South West Health on this project. It gives participants with mental health challenges a new way of exploring their wellbeing and identity — in a warm and welcoming environment.
Jessica Baxter, Community Mental Health Engagement Worker, South West Healthcare, Rory Carter, Artist and Owner of Three Capes Gallery, Jessica Brugmans, Early Intervention Psychosocial Support Response Team Leader at Wellways.
“Everybody is so excited to show off their piece, and it’s [about] the bonding of the group of girls, the meditation, and the paintings,” said Wellways Participant, Corina McKenzie at the official opening of the exhibition, held in early June. She also, gave tours of the exhibition where she explained how the art came together.
The artworks were created over a three-month period and across the south coast region including Port Fairy, Warrnambool and Hamilton. It was facilitated as a therapeutic activity designed to support the mental health of the local community, reduce stigma and give participants the opportunity to be seen and remain anonymous at the same time.
Jessica Baxter, Community Mental Health Engagement Worker at South West Healthcare said that their mission is to, “Raise awareness that a mental health diagnosis doesn’t define who a person is”.
The paintings and ceramic sculpture tell both the personal stories of participants, but also, highlight the universal struggles and hopes, that they all share together on their mental health journeys, regardless of what stages they are at. It also, deeply embeds their voices into the fabric of the local community – something they can be very proud of!
Following the exhibition, the work will be placed as permanent displays in the community, including at Wellways and South West Healthcare.
Three Capes Gallery
Three Capes Gallery is pleased to present Here I Am, an exhibition of ceramic sculpture and large-scale paintings by artists with lived experience of mental illness.