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Artwork from an eight-week project which aimed to bring people together to reduce isolation and support better mental health and wellbeing was officially launched at a special exhibition on Thursday, August 29.
Entitled ‘Home is Where the ’ART is!’ the exhibition explores the concept of ‘home’ and features work from people attending Action Mental Health’s southern Services. The project was funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Rural Engagement Arts Programme 2023/24, with the resulting artwork displayed at the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre at Oxford Island.
Artist, Hazel Boland, who also works as an artistic educator, programmer and engagement coordinator, facilitated the project, which brought together people from Armagh, Portadown and Newry. She said it was wonderful to see how everyone had worked together, offering support and encouragement to each other along the way.
“One of the quotes from the Armagh group was ‘trust the process,’” she said at the launch event. “You can’t always visualise something or see the outcome but you just have to go for it. Everybody embraced it, even if there was a bit of fear to start with. “There was lino printing and then something very different, which was the felting. Everybody tried both and the more they did it, the more confidence they had. I think the work is amazing. What I like about the exhibition today is that everybody has come together for it. It means much more to see what everybody has produced all together in the one place. I think you’ve all done a fabulous job.”
Throughout the project, participants had the opportunity to express themselves in their medium of choice, as well as enjoying social interactions within the group settings. The artwork subsequently communicates to others – be it friends, family or the wider community – positive mental health messages to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental ill-health, which often prevents people from accessing the support they need to stay well.
Action Mental Health chief executive, David Babington, welcomed everyone to the exhibition on Thursday and said it was great to see how beneficial the project had been to all those involved. “The pieces here really do reflect your journeys,” he said. “I would like to thank the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for funding the project and to say a big thank you to our staff at Action Mental Health and the wider team, along with Hazel Boland for facilitating the workshops.”
Also saying a few words at the launch were some of the project participants, including Francis Johnston from the Action Mental Health Newry service, who was surprised at just how much he enjoyed the experience. With his last brush with art being in third year at school, Francis said it had been “amazing” to be introduced to new materials and creative processes, such as working with vinyl.
He added: “Whenever you were carving out the vinyl, you didn’t think about nothing – all the worries were gone. I had so much fun in the class. It’s so much better having a teacher to teach you. The enthusiasm is there. Hazel did such an amazing job with us and I would like to thank Siobhan and all the Action Mental Health staff who helped with the programme. I don’t think I missed a single day!
“I would never have dreamed of doing things like that. I thought I was just going to go and have a bit of craic. I didn’t think I would ever learn anything. It even got me to go and ask my brother, who’s an artist, to get me materials to do my own art.”
A participant from Armagh said her experience had been equally positive and that the group, who did not view themselves as artists, had thoroughly enjoyed the sessions with Hazel.
“Hazel proved that you can produce something,” she said. “She had faith in us when we had no faith. As the weeks went on we got more into it. The felting we produced has a deep meaning to every one of the members of the Armagh group. The name we gave it is ‘Our Circle of Community’. It represents our safe place, where we feel secure.
“We can find things very daunting. We didn’t have much faith in ourselves at times, but Hazel kept trusting us and delivered this programme, which we thoroughly enjoyed.”
Also speaking at the launch was Simona Ladygaite from Action Mental Health’s Newry group, who used to create her own art but then stopped, due to health issues. She said the ‘Home is Where the Art Is!’ project had allowed her to return to doing what she loved. One of her art pieces exhibited at the launch is an emotive work of Simona with her brother and sister, who she was separated from for a long time.
“I’m thankful to Hazel and the Action Mental Health staff because I started to do my art and explore it again,” she said. “When Hazel came into the class she opened my artistic view. I loved it every day in our class. It didn’t matter if I was in pain or in a bad mood or if there was bad weather – I enjoyed it. I’m so thankful to the staff.”
Colin Loughran, service manager at Action Mental Health, congratulated everyone who took part in ‘Home is Where the ’ART is!’ He added that the aim of the project had been to “bring everyone together – and I think we’ve done that.
“It’s really reassuring to hear that the work we’re doing is helping and making a difference,” he said. “I’d also like to thank Siobhan Black and Alison Reid, who coordinated the project with Hazel – and of course, to thank the Arts Council NI for their funding. In the earlier part of the project, someone said that ‘home isn’t a place, it’s where you feel most comfortable.’ I think ‘Home is Where the ’ART is!’ really hit the mark.”