Art exhibition showcases work of Richmond Wellbeing clients, volunteers and staff

A brand new exhibition entitled HeART and Soul opened at the Old Courthouse Complex in the Busselton cultural precinct last week. The exhibition contains about 80 unique pieces of art produced by clients, volunteers and staff of Richmond Wellbeing. It started out as an art project designed to provide a positive distraction for Richmond Wellbeing clients who were struggling through the festive period. The project was led by Richmond Wellbeing’s residential care general manager Adele Stewart and enthusiastically supported by people across the organisation. “Christmas can be very difficult for so many people and I wanted to provide something else for our clients to focus on during this period,” she said. As the project developed, the scope was expanded to include Richmond Wellbeing volunteers and staff with the goal of creating a sense of community. “The HeART and Soul exhibition celebrates the importance of creativity in mental health recovery,” Ms Stewart said. The project ran for four months and produced some outstanding work that the Richmond Wellbeing team decided to share. As a result two exhibitions opened simultaneously last week, with one in Cannington and the other in Busselton. “The response has been incredible; I can’t believe the buy in we have had for this project,” Ms Stewart said. The team at Richmond Wellbeing has now committed to making the exhibition an annual event. Art therapist Natalia Sarantopoulou was involved in the project and worked with Richmond Wellbeing to bring the Busselton exhibition to fruition. She said art therapy could have remarkable impacts on people with mental health challenges. “It is now evidence based that art supports neural development and encourages positive mental states.” she said. One of the exhibits in the Busselton exhibition is a collection of clay sculptures created by former Richmond Wellbeing client Abby Atkinson. Ms Atkinson is a student working towards a Certificate IV in mental health and started working with clay during her stay with Richmond Wellbeing. She said her art was an effective means for her to express herself when she was struggling with her mental health. “Working with clay is so therapeutic for me; when I am using my hands and shaping the figures I create, I feel like I am nurturing my body,” she said. “Some of the sculptures are created with a hollow section, and this is because I like to think that this hole in the sculptures represents a space that can be filled flowers music, people or experiences.” Artist Matt B also has work on display in the HeART and Soul exhibition. His work The 7th Circle received a great deal of attention from visitors to the exhibition. “Having been inspired by abstract art, I poured my Heart and Soul into this piece,” he said. Richmond Wellbeing provides inclusive, community-based mental health and wellbeing support services across WA.