New exhibition celebrates age
It’s never too late to find your creative voice or benefit from creativity, as the vibrant new exhibition at Newport-based arts for wellbeing charity Independent Arts shows.
The diverse and exciting collection of artwork – from photography and batik-style flags, to collagraphy prints and 3-D collages, as well as audio reminiscences – have all be created by residents of Island care homes, working with Independent Arts’ freelance arts practitioners Lou Elliott, Kirstie Hayler and Miranda Amapola.
The artwork in the current exhibition comes from Cornelia Manor Residential Care Home, Cherry Trees Rest Home, Downside Residential Care Home, Eden House, The Gouldings Resource Centre, Hazel Lodge, Inglefield Nursing & Residential Home, Kite Hill Care Home, Newport Residential Care Home, Solent Grange Nursing Home, The Saltings and Northbrooke House.
It’s a real privilege to be able to host this collection of work from Island care home residents who have shown such creativity and charisma in this body of work and a willingness to explore different art techniques and mediums in art workshops to put this collection together
“Some residents may be living with conditions such as dementia, so it’s about engaging meaningfully with people in ways that work for them.”
According to Lynne Rose, Deputy Manager at Newport Residential Care, engagement with the creative workshops has made “a huge difference to the lives of the people we support”. She adds: ”Independent Arts certainly enrich and enhance their wellbeing.”
There is strong research data to demonstrate that creative activities aid mental and physical wellbeing. With dementia in particular, the creative part of the brain is the most powerful and stays strongest for longest. So creative mediums can help people communicate and encourage feelings of wellbeing and provide a reprieve from anxiety.
The exhibition, which is free of charge, runs until 26 November, Monday-Saturday 10am-4.30pm at Independent Arts, 48 High Street, Newport. If you would like to know more about Workshops for Wellbeing, please contact Nicola or pop into Independent Arts.
