he al
les
t S
at
H
a T d ea e i or
h t s
Da
watching the unset with the wind clearing away the roubles . . .
s
Head Tales
Foreword
Pilar Kasat . CAN MANAGING DIRECTOR
‘Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.’ Pablo Picasso The value of community arts practice as a form of healing has long been recognised. It can take many forms: visual art, dance, drama – or in the case of CAN’s Head Tales project – storytelling. In 2014 CAN partnered with the Mental Health Commission to deliver a community arts project that would provide people experiencing mental health issues with an opportunity to share their personal stories in a safe, friendly and supportive environment. We called the project Head Tales. Led by professional actor and comedian Andrea Gibbs, Head Tales workshops were delivered in Geraldton, Margaret River, Busselton, Bunbury, Narrogin and Fremantle. Participants were given the inspiration and tools to turn significant memories into a short story to be shared. Some were written, some were read out loud, others were recorded. This publication contains a selection of those powerful, poignant and personal memoirs. These stories have been beautifully accented with original illustrations by professional artists from around Australia and New Zealand. Each artist was given a story to inspire their work. This book is also a celebration of wellness and mental health arts projects across Western Australia. The four community arts projects featured in this book have been funded by the Mental Health Commission through CAN’s Catalyst Community Arts Fund. Catalyst has a special category called Explore. This category supports projects that explore mental health issues with people who are vulnerable to, or affected by mental illness. This publication is dedicated to all those who took a leap of faith and bared their hearts and souls during the Head Tales project, and for all the Catalyst community arts projects that are working to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.
Andrea Gibbs - Workshop Facilitator Growing up in a small country town myself, I know that a tight-knit community can also sometimes translate to a tight-lipped community. Individuals in the community can sometimes be scared to speak up, afraid of looking weak or being seen as a gossip. But I believe talking openly about our lives can save lives. Not being able to open up is one of the biggest cultural barriers contributing to suicide and mental illness. Projects like this allow voices to be heard. We are all very good at just keeping on day after day. It’s very rare to take time out to reflect upon our past and the experiences we’ve had. The workshops offered a space for that. Participants were encouraged to tell stories from the heart and use their own words. This is a great skill that can then be transferred into their dayto-day and by sharing their stories we can reduce the stigma around some of the issues raised.
Most importantly, wherever there was darkness, there was also light and hope—with a laugh just around the corner.
One thing I noticed early on in the workshops, is that courage is contagious. It only takes one person to open up and be honest: then before long others follow suit. It’s been so nice seeing that opening up happen slowly with all the groups I’ve worked with. It can be incredibly cathartic and rewarding – for everyone involved.
In Narrogin, the Noongar community was carrying a lot of sadness. For many participants, it was the first time they had talked about the topic of suicide openly. Sometimes, darker subjects can really get a group down, but it always felt right in this situation because people were ready to share with each other. Most importantly, wherever there was darkness, there was also light and hope – with a laugh just around the corner. Noongars are funny buggers with a lot of warmth. Storytelling is deeply rooted in the culture and they are great at it. I have had a blast working with everyone on this project and I hope you all enjoy the stories that came out of it.
HE
carried he through a challengi life
Stories Head Tales
8
Tina the Terrific
10
Being Rachel
12
The twilight sail
14
Mrs Sweet’s Grand Pianola
16
If only I won Lotto!
18
Be brave, dream big
21
Hubble Street
24
Best friends
HE
It’s a sig strength to need help, accept it.
ILLUSTRATION BY EMMA FRANCESCA
Tina the Terrific
BY TINA
Tina, 51 years old, country girl at heart. Travelled, experienced; has her bearings in a compass. Heart of a servant, learned and skilled. I put walls up around myself. Has been hurt.
If I were a superhero, my name would be Tina the Terrific.
I like nice clothes, and have colour coordinated. I don’t like to wear jewellery, a watch or rings. I like kayaking and things on the river. I like to swim with fish, snorkelling, and sleeping under the stars. If I were a superhero, my name would be Tina the Terrific. Listen to ‘Tina the Terrific’
9
ILLUSTRATION BY MARNI WALKER
Being Rachel
BY RACHEL
Rachel is a 52-year-old mother of five, grandmother of one, who doesn’t smile enough. She is educated, creative, resourceful and sensitive. Her big feet have carried her through a challenging life filled with colourful experiences, from meditating with nature to organising events and producing creative meals, even though she’s disappointed with some of the choices she has made.
Her big feet have carried her through a challenging life filled with colourful experiences.
Rachel is her own worst enemy, ever critical of her emotional personality, although she has learnt to overcome her mother’s worry. She loves gardening and receiving gifts, including flowers. A chocoholic (sometimes in secret) enjoys an eclectic taste in music, dancing and a glass of red. A country girl and patriotic New Zealander, loves to receive and give hugs. She is still somewhat naive, a short package with big boobs, who struggles with depression. If she were a superhero, her name would be Brazilian Rachel. Listen to ‘Being Rachel’
10
Listen to ‘The twilight sail’
The twilight sail
BY RACHEL
Several years ago, when the yacht club members moored their vessels near the harbour, I had the opportunity to go twilight sailing. From what I can remember, it was a social race outing where the yachty wannabes could have a go. It was a cool spring and late afternoon as my two younger sons and I waited patiently on the dock for the skilled members of the crew to attend to the necessary preparations. As I clambered ungracefully aboard, I was filled with anticipation and excitement at the adventure ahead. This was also mixed with an appreciation of the risks being on the sea and keeping an ever-watchful eye on my two young boys. As we motored out of the sheltered harbour on Scavenger, the largest yacht in Geraldton at the time, and ventured into the open waters of Chapman Bay, evening was closing in with the ideal conditions for sailing. The huge sails were released into the mid-west winds and soon we were speeding across the bay.
ILLUSTRATION BY EMMA FRANCESCA
... watching A quick lesson in tacking with the sail into the wind, all crew available, perched as far as possible on the opposite the sunset side of the vessel. When the skipper wants to tack or change with the direction, the crew manning the sails, swaps the sail to the wind clearingopposite side and everyone else clambered down from the high side, which has now become the low side, and up the away the other side as far out as possible. troubles . . . As I was sitting near the rear of the yacht, letting go of the
rails, climbing down into the central well, across and up the other side to the far rail, after tacking several times, it became quite apparent how unfit I was. As we passed the marker buoy that marked the end of the race, cheers went up into the night air. We had won the friendly race. It was an amazing experience zig-zagging our way across Chapman Bay with the friendly crew, watching the sunset with the wind clearing away the troubles, leaving me carefree with the taste of sea salt on my lips. I wish I could do it every week. PS The boys spent most of the time below decks with the nibblies. 13
Listen to ‘Mrs Sweet’s Grand Pianola’
Mrs Sweet’s Grand Pianola BY TINA
My best friend when I was 7.
We lived in a nice house in Vic Park. We knew our neighbours well. In fact, we had lived in their houses as boarders before my parents and I moved into our own house next door.
She had rolls of music that would be fed into the piano . . .
It was nothing for me to walk inside our next-door neighbour’s house for a visit [laughs]. My sweetest, most best friend, was Mrs Sweet’s Grand Pianola. She had rolls of music that would be fed into the piano and music would play instantly. I would watch with delight as the piano keys went up and down by themselves. After a grand display of my excellent piano playing skills, Mrs Sweet would make a tea and we would sit there in her kitchen together until it was time for me to go home. 14
ILLUSTRATION BY KYMBA BURROWS
ILLUSTRATION BY KYMBA BURROWS
If only I won Lotto! BY TINA
I’m going to have to win Lotto, I joke. Whenever we wish for something over the top, that’s what we would say. But that would never happen. I didn’t even play Lotto; it was considered a sin in the tight-knit Christian group that I was in. I really wanted a TV, but it was frowned upon by my Christian friends. They said it took away from my time with the church.
So back to work it was for me. Beggars can’t be choosers. I enjoyed working every day, meeting new people in my job as a long-distance courier driver. There were bills to pay and people to meet and places to go. If only I won Lotto, I’d be right. That’s when I read one of the Australian Post magazines that dad passed onto me. It read ‘Guaranteed Lotto success’. It sounded too good to be true. So I gave it a go, sceptically. I started buying Lotto tickets, following the instructions I’d been given carefully.
...it was considered a sin in the tight-knit Christian group that I was in.
Some weeks passed without any success. As sceptical as I was, I couldn’t give up now. I wanted to see this work. I tried to visualise winning and even prayed to God. I was torn between my conflicting Christian behaviour.
With trepidation in my heart, I put my Lotto numbers in. This was the last time, I said. Dad liked checking off the Lotto numbers to see if we’d had a win. Dad exclaimed, ‘You’ve won Lotto, girl. What’re you going to do with that?’ Buy a TV I said, and I did. Listen to ‘If only I won Lotto’ 17
Be brave, dream big BY RACHEL
Dear 16-year-old me
I wish I had the wisdom of my experiences of life back there with you. Having children is a fantastic experience, filled with joys and love, but don’t be fooled. It’s an overwhelming challenge at times and you’ll often be alone, so make those choices based on what you want and need, not anyone else’s. Family do love and care about you, but it’s not all as it seems. Take time to consider their advice, ask lots of questions, research and make up your mind. Remember not to be too quick to dismiss advice or suggestions. The shortest route is not always the best. I could write an encyclopedia. You have the power. Don’t follow your heart, use your head. Read, read, read – about personalities, relationships and communication. Soak You are much it up, chew it over, understand it all. Your stronger than you choices regarding the men in your life will think... You can ultimately control its direction. So choose do anything you wisely, consider the kind of person you want to father your children and share want. your life with. The world is bigger than the little bubble you know and you will experience it. You are much stronger than you think, better educated than you think. You can do anything you want. Feel the fear and do it anyway. Nana is your best confidant. Draw on her years of wisdom. Keep the photos she offers you and don’t worry about what family members think of your close relationship with her. It’s their problem, not yours. 18
ILLUSTRATION BY MARNI WALKER
Listen to ‘Be brave, dream big’
Build a relationship with dad’s family. Life is short and everyone is precious. Embrace your sexuality. Most of what you’ve been told or led to believe is bullshit. Sex is great, but making love is magic. Make sure you learn all you can for yourself, and together with your chosen mate, keep it spicy. It’s fun and keeps the passion alive. It’s okay to let others help when things are tough. It’s a sign of strength to say, I need help, and to accept it. Be mindful of family health issues, live healthy, eat well, exercise, get enough rest. The dishes can wait. A good partner or friend will help.
It’s a sign of strength to say, I need help, and to accept it.
Let those who criticise go. You don’t need them, friend or family alike. Plan, set goals, dream – because dreams with goals become reality. Be brave, dream big. Learn to shake off the haters, the fakers, the liars and the cheaters. It’s their problem, not yours, and don’t take it personally. This is a very important lesson to learn. It will change your life for the better.
Everything is a choice and you are only responsible for your choices. Learn that, remember that. Sometimes you won’t understand other people’s choices, but that’s okay. Let it be, you are entitled to your opinion, but sometimes it’s better to keep it to yourself.
ILLUSTRATION BY MARNI WALKER
Listen to ‘Hubble Street’
Hubble Street
BY JENNIFER
I am taking us back to a time when we lived in East Fremantle, in the city. We moved into a block of five townhouses. We all shared walls on both sides and it was single brick walls, which we discovered after we moved in. I’ve decided not to tell the whole story of Hubble Street, as I would be here forever and a day. The fact is also that I am writing this even though I’m not in the mood. My daughter excels in discussing our past experiences. Even though the units were lovely inside, living there was hell for us and our Navy neighbours. The only things that got us through were our Navy neighbours. I remember to this day when they moved in. They were making a noise. I opened the curtains to see that they were our new tenants. Over the next year, I spent a lot of time at those curtains, more than ever before they moved in. They were a never-ending source of amusement for us. They certainly left their mark at Hubble Street. It was strange that we knew they were Navy and when we finally were acquainted, they said, ‘How did you know we’re Navy?’. I said, ‘I don’t know’. Anyway, at first we would meet at the mailboxes and on bin day, with a quick chat. They seemed like a nice bunch. I’ll just tell you this; they were aged between 21 and 32 years. One evening, we came back from our nightly walk, they had the door open and the blinds open and we started having a chat. We all ended up sitting in the car park till late. It was the week before Easter 1997. They had been at Hubble Street since November of the year before. That was so much fun, we sat there exchanging Easter The only things that night eggs, some beer and foot massages. Yes, checking out got us through were each other’s foot diseases. Yes, I had a beer and I don’t our Navy neighbours. drink. I dropped the glass on the concrete, so they all teased me, one glass and I was tipsy. Daniel was keen on Deanne – that was an interesting turn of events. I had Anthony trying to chat me up. It was hysterical. I told him he wasn’t very good at it. I don’t know how, but I ended up sewing smiley faces on his socks and a pair of jocks. We didn’t get to bed until about 3 am. It was our turn to disturb the neighbours. All our talking was annoying them. We should have put the stereo on. The fellow said, ‘Stuff the arsehole neighbours’. He said they had been drinking since they came home from work, which explained why they were all farting larger bombs. Everyone was laughing about the farting and the belching. If it had been anyone else but the fellas, we probably would have been disgusted. Well, as we guessed, our crummy other immediate neighbours reported a complaint to 21
ILLUSTRATION BY MARNI WALKER
the manager of the real estate. Our druggie party, drug-dealing neighbours. Not once had we put in a report about their behaviour, night in, night out. As time passed by, we began to take walks together to the river and Red Rooster at night time. Also, they began to invite us over for pizza and movies. Eventually, they let us sleep on their sofas, night after night, to get away from our creepy, noisy neighbours. Daniel kept asking me to make a formal complaint about all of them so that they would be evicted. I gave it a lot of thought and went to the Police. They advised us to get out of this property (as well as the last two properties) for the same reason—drug dealing. Here we go again. The Police also advised all of us to get our own property. All the time we were living there, the property manager kept coming into our unit when we weren’t home to steal from us. Another neighbour told us she was going into our property. Someone was telling her when we weren’t home. It turned out she lived in the street behind us. She even stole two opal and diamond 18ct rings, which I had bought for Deanne for her 21st birthday. Blah ... blah ... blah ... blah ... blah, and so it went on. The fellas started taking Deanne out with them so she would be safe. I knew they were going to let their lease go soon because of all the trouble. It was around this time that Marcus went to his car one night to grab his CDs. He left the car in gear; the car lurched knew they would forward and went straight through the wall next door.
I be leaving soon... I was so emotional about it.
The Police were called. It was full of mannequins. He drove straight through all the mannequins.
Anyway, the Police were called and Deanne and I heard all the commotion. We went onto our balcony and crouched behind the shadecloth. The Police asked if they had all been drinking. No Opisher, whoops, Officer. The unit smelt like a brewery. Every time we socialised, I would have a glass of beer. Anthony started coming to our unit and staying for hours. I knew they would be leaving soon and that they were being stationed over east. I was so emotional about it. The situation for us was getting difficult. None of us wanted to say goodbye. All of this was extremely unusual behaviour for me and my daughter. I hadn’t been with anyone for years. Well, you guessed it, I slept with Anthony. That one night, two months later, after they had vacated, I had a miscarriage. We vacated and moved too. You guessed it – another shitty, crappy, property. Of course, I had been hearing voices over the last five years. I’d not told anyone. I thought and hoped that it would go away once our lives improved. Unfortunately, eventually it went full bloom to say the least. We knew them affectionately as Daniel Ducati, Anthony Trots, Scot Scottie Kirk, Captain Kirk, Marcus Pap Smear (don’t ask), Nathan Splitpins. It was all back in the day when I still had my youthful appearance. There is so much more about them that I could tell. My treasured memories. God bless them all. 23
ILLUSTRATION BY NATALIE SCHOLTZ
Watch the ‘Best friends’ animation
Best friends
BY TINA
When I was eleven, Aunty Faye, ‘yes Aunty Faye, you were my best friend when I was eleven’, I remember the good times I had at your house, playing in the wading pool with Christopher. He was much younger than me, so it was fun watching him fall over while he was learning to sit up by himself. Aunty Faye and I did origami together, things made out of paper. She had a TV and at a certain time of day, a short origami program would come on. I was impressed with the finished products Aunty Faye made. She was my best friend when I was eleven. My best friend when I was sixteen. Judy. The sweetest name I ever did hear. I actually named her with time and deliberation, to get her name just right to suit her personality. She was a black and white Kelpie cross. She was the runt of the pack. I sat with the litter of pups in the kennels for some time before I chose her. I was overjoyed when the I felt loved and stockman told my dad I could keep her. Yes, Judy was wanted and life was my best friend when I was sixteen.
looking good.
My best friend when I was twenty. The last twelve months had been a whirlwind over time. I was nineteen and living in Perth. I’d not long split up with my boyfriend, Bob, when I met Kevin. Without someone to share the house with, since Bob was gone, money would be tight. Within the week, Kevin had moved in with me. Why hadn’t I met this guy sooner, I thought? Kevin was everything I wanted in a man. I’d never experienced sex like that before [laughter]. I felt loved and wanted and life was looking good. Kevin loved to lather and wash me in the shower [laughter] and let his hands slip all over my body, sent sensations. Kevin, yes, he was my best friend when I was twenty [laughter]. 25
My best friend when I was thirty. The coffee mug I used to own said it all. Twenty-nine forever. I didn’t want to turn thirty. How grown up was that? As I reflected on the years gone past, I felt a pull to the land. I’d always loved nature in the veins of a leaf, it was so intricately made. Of course there is a God. In my childhood, I loved to go hiking, bushwalking around Menanu Hill. In the stillness and aloneness in nature is where I found my strength. After years away, I long to come home to this country, the country I grew up on. My best friend when I was thirty was my country roots. My best friend now is somebody that is rarely seen out. She is not a show-off or a spendthrift. She knows how to cook for a herd and get them all to sit at the table. The values of life are important to her; like old-fashioned manners, politeness, work ethic and family. Her experience shows but it tells me we’re learning every day.
She enjoys her own company, finding pleasure in the small things of life. She always has time to listen, saying we have two ears and one mouth, listen twice as much as you talk. I’d describe her as lovable, creative, perceptive, and I always feel much calmer after spending time with my best friend, now, me.
ILLUSTRATION BY NATALIE SCHOLTZ
In the stillness and aloneness in nature is where I found my strength."
FREMANTLE
Workshops KarEl
Adventures of a Fremantle Travel Writer My Huge Apology
ChrisTOPHER The Wandering Minstrel
Ruby Taking Away
Adrian M A Gift to the World From One Bow to the End Bow
Adrian B Life in Prison
Projects Catalyst
30
SAME, SAME ... DIFFERENT
33
HALLS CREEK YOHFEST DANCE GROUP
36
MIND THE CHANGE
39
seeing, sharing and honouring ourselves
CA
...creating a more visible, m accapted place
Same, Same … Different? Raina Savage . project coordinator and festival director, GFEST Arts and Cultural Festival The Same, Same … Different? photography project created fabulously quirky and breathtakingly beautiful images of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) people living in regional Australia. Run by Pride Midwest, the project involved a group of GLBTI people from the Mid West of Western Australia working with a professional photographer to learn camera skills and composition, and then exhibiting the images they produced of themselves, their families and their community. What was behind the images was even more important. In a series of workshops, the participants explored mental health issues related to their senses of identity, belonging, community and family, and to their feelings about being members of an often-reviled minority in regional Australia. They highlighted the strengths, qualities and experiences that gave them their wellbeing and resilience. The project was ...creating a more exciting – and a bit scary – as it was the first time visible, more accepted that GLBTI people in the Mid West had held a exhibition that not only identified them place for GLBTIpeople public as part of a sexual minority, but also opened up in the Mid West. their private worlds to public view. Fortunately, the public response was incredibly positive and was an important step in creating a more visible, more accepted place for GLBTI people in the Mid West. Participants explored various photographic styles – portraiture, still life, abstract, studio and outdoor photography – to develop a range of tools that, in a relatively short period, had members experimenting confidently. Joukje Mulder, a local lesbian mental-health professional, led group discussions that were sometimes moving, sometimes sad and often hilarious about GLBTI people’s experiences of growing up, coming out or living in small regional communities. Some of these experiences were negative but the workshops focused on identifying the things, places and 30
people that strengthened their resilience and brought meaning and joy to their lives. Each participant developed a concept that expressed a personal experience and two or three images to encapsulate that concept, which were then printed, professionally mounted and exhibited at the Geraldton Arts and Cultural Development Council’s gallery. The exhibition was officially opened in October 2013 in conjunction with the launch of the GFEST arts and cultural festival, a fringe arts festival also run by Pride Midwest.
...express their identities as part of their local community.
The project allowed members of a minority group that is often invisible or marginalised in rural and regional communities to be placed in the cultural foreground and to express their identities as part of their local community. People from minority groups can often feel lost in the mainstream of small communities, which often present a single cultural identity that can feel excluding for those who do not fit the cultural norm. In such communities, the cost of fitting in and hiding your real self is represented in high levels of depression, self-harm, alcohol and drug abuse and suicide among GLBTI people.
For the participants, the benefits were clear. Many had little experience being artists or photographers and all were delightfully surprised at the professional quality of the work they were able to create. Three of the women have since formed a group that continues to meet regularly to go on photographic adventures together. All participants reported enjoying a safe place to discuss issues openly.
Halls Creek
YoHFest dance group
Alana Pritchard . acting deputy principal, Halls Creek District High School Halls Creek is a remote town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is home to the Indigenous Jaru (Djar-u) and Kija (gKid-ja) peoples, and Indigenous people represent over 70 per cent of the town’s population. Halls Creek District High School is one of the largest remote schools in Western Australia. The school was supported to develop a program that focused on girls’ mental and physical wellbeing, including their self-esteem and selfimage. In conjunction with the Australian Girls Choir and their Girls from Oz program, the school created an after-school performing arts group for girls. The intention was that the group would They explored perform at the Youth on Health Festival (YoHFest), which is issues in their Western Australia’s biggest youth performing arts event for community and high school students.
took pride in their Indigenous culture, celebrating its uniqueness and strengths.
In July 2013, a group of 15 girls aged between 12 and 15 started meeting on Thursday afternoons to create a dance to perform at YoHFest. The girls were expected to attend school, study hard and participate in all YoHFest after-school activities. The dance they created had to be linked to 2013’s YoHFest theme, which was ‘lifestyles’. Justina Truscott, a renowned Indigenous dancer from the Ochre Contemporary Dance Company, worked intensively with students for a week to help them choreograph a traditional dance with a contemporary style.
The girls named their dance 6770 GOLD, as 6770 is the Halls Creek postcode. When planning their dance, the girls looked at topics relevant to their lives and the place in which they live. They explored issues in their community and took pride in their Indigenous culture, celebrating its uniqueness and strengths. 33
Nguyuru Waaringarrem – Halls Creek Music Festival, an initiative of PRK Radio, was the first performance opportunity for the group. The music festival was attended by more than 1500 people, and students were proud of their performance. The group’s goal, however, was to perform at YoHFest, both at the preliminaries in Broome and at the finals in Mandurah.
The girls’ confidence while on stage was blinding.
By September, the students had perfected their dance, developed their costumes and were ready for the Broome heats. The drive took more than seven hours, but the students said every minute in the bus was worth the three minutes performing on stage. The girls’ confidence while on stage was blinding. Watching them, and realising how much they had grown from feelings of shame and embarrassment in rehearsals to feelings of pride and confidence when performing in front of so many people, was fantastic.
Not long after visiting Broome, the students embarked on the journey to Mandurah, an hour south of Perth. The girls’ final performance at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre was the culmination of the hard work, dedication, time, effort and heart they had put into the year. The girls received a standing ovation at the end of their performance, which moved them to tears. 35
Mind the Change Althea Gordon, artist
Mind the Change incorporated theatre-based self-development workshops for people living with memory loss, and their carers. The activities were designed to encourage sensory engagement and positive interaction among participants, to help them overcome their feelings of isolation and improve their mental wellbeing by using drama, distraction and laughter-therapy techniques. Identity, culture and storytelling were also explored through the workshop activities. A performance was developed, captured in stages, edited and shown on a presentation night at the Subiaco Arts Centre.
...allow participants sensory engagement and positive interaction to overcome isolation.
The initial idea for Mind the Change appeared in 2009 when I was toying with the idea of how theatre arts could be used as a form of therapy for people living with memory loss, and their carers.
The Mind the Change – Theatre Development Workshops evolved into a six-week, theatre-based selfdevelopment workshop involving people living with memory loss, and their primary carers. During the sixweek course, they participated in and workshopped drama games and exercises, role-play, storytelling and improvisation. All of these activities were designed to allow participants sensory engagement and positive interaction to overcome isolation. The goal for each of the workshop groups was to develop a performance that reflected the things that are most important to them – things that closely reflect their local identity and culture. The performances were captured in stages and edited, as the participants’ levels of confidence were not up to staging their performances live. The performance presentation night was held on 29 April 2013 at the Subiaco Arts Centre. 36
At the performance night, I was able to talk with several of the participants from the workshop over a light supper. It was only then that I realised just how much of an effect these workshops had on their everyday lives. The completion of my workshops coincided with the start of the school holidays, and as most of the participants have I realised just how grandchildren, a lot of them had been spending much of an effect time with their grandchildren in the week leading up to the performance night. As we were talking, these workshops they told me they had been playing the games had on their and activities we had done in the workshops, as a pair, with their grandchildren. The response was everyday lives. very positive! Those living with memory loss were excited to tell me that they had shared a moment with their grandchildren and that the grandchildren had enjoyed playing with them. It was a pleasure to see how much the workshops had continued to affect their lives, outside of the hours we had spent together.
Seeing, Sharing and Honouring Ourselves A Scrapbook Project When the World Press Photo exhibition of prize-winning photographs came to Perth in July 2015, fifteen teenagers from Perth’s eastern suburbs were given the opportunity to share the spotlight. They shared their hopes and dreams for the future in an intimate display of photographs, personal stories and multimedia videos at the exhibition at the Ruth Faulkner Public Library in Belmont.
Programs such as this are essential in showing that young people are a vital part of the community.
The exhibition was the culmination of a community arts project partly funded by CAN’s Catalyst Community Arts Fund. Called Seeing, Sharing and Honouring Ourselves, the scrapbook project was coordinated by World Press Photo Perth and Belmont YMCA. It gave young people an opportunity to share their stories using different mediums. Fifteen young people took part in photo and storytelling workshops led by international photojournalist, Brenda Ann Kenneally, and Australian World Press Photo Portrait winner Raphaela Rosella.
The two talented photographers spent a week working alongside participants to help them create a scrapbook of images and stories that explored their personal journeys. ‘Writing is always intimidating and getting started is the hardest part, so, with a jar of gummy bears and some supportive adults, the young people started sharing stories about where they’re from, places and people they can count on, and how they’d like to see their futures,’ said Laura Strentz, from World Press Photo Perth. 39
The young people were given digital cameras and encouraged to share their ideas, collect artefacts, draw, write and weave together a scrapbook about their life.
Writing is always intimidating and getting started is the hardest part.
Brenda Ann Kenneally also offered free portrait sessions to the public to help connect the scrapbooking project to the community. Some of the photos were featured in the local exhibition. ‘Programs such as this are not only great for the young people personally, they are essential in showing that young people are a vital part of the community,’ said Brooke Draper, YMCA Operations Manager, Perth Metro.
Based in New York, Brenda Ann Kenneally is renowned for producing work that is inspired by telling of untold stories. Seeing, Sharing and Honouring Ourselves did just that. The Belmont scrapbook project and the local display, which was held in conjunction with the World Press Photo exhibition in Perth, brought attention to the stories of youth whose voices often go unheard. 41
Artist Biographies Andrea Gibbs Andrea Gibbs is an actor, comedian, improviser and one of Australia’s premiere storytelling speakers. In 2015 she was billed as a ‘revelation’ by The Australian newspaper and recently brought Cate Blanchett to tears as the lead role in Griffin Theatre Company and Perth Theatre Company’s production of 8 Gigs in Sydney. She is the co-creator of Barefaced Stories, the longest running storytelling night of its kind in Australia. As a comedian, she won Triple J’s 2003 Raw Comedy and is a core member of Perth’s premiere improv-comedy ensemble The Big HOO-HAA! She is a regular on ABC 720 Drive with John McGlue and Breakfast with Barr RTRfm. Other radio credits include host of 96fm’s Breakfast Crew – Tony, Fitzi & Andrea (2007–2008). In 2015 she was a guest speaker at both Women of Letters with Marieke Hardy and TEDxPerth.
Emma Francesca Emma Francesca’s practice tells stories that take many forms, from figurative painting, design, sculpting and animation to photography and picture book making. Stories of altered perceptions, archetypal figures and fictitious creatures hark back to the ancient tradition of classical fables. Emma has a Bachelor of Graphic Design (majoring in Illustration) from Auckland University of Technology and a Master of Arts Management. She has been a practising designer, illustrator, communications coordinator, arts manager and tutor in the publishing, arts, community and cultural sectors. In 2015 she moved back home to New Zealand from Australia, working as a freelance designer and illustrator creating bespoke works for print and web. You can see more of her work at www.emmafrancesca.net
Thes been acc origina by artists Austr Steven Aiton Steven is a Western Australian animation artist who often Zealan collaborates with others. Since graduating from Curtin University with a Bachelor of Arts in Art in 2000, he has was gi become actively involved in many remote and regional inspi community arts projects. Steven is an accomplished 3D computer animator. However, he often mixes new technology with old animation techniques such as sand animation. During the past four years, Steven has focused on combining arts with health and has worked with the Western Desert Kidney Health Project and as the artist in residence at Princess Margaret Hospital. He has recently begun work as an animation therapist working in mental health. Steven has been involved in several CAN supported projects over the years, including Narrogin’s Charrnock Woman, Quairading’s Air Grants Program and Coolgardie’s Rock Hole Long Pipe. His work has also featured in art galleries, on television and in film festivals around the world.
Natalie Scholtz Natalie Scholtz is an emerging Perth-based artist. Using a range of mediums including oil pastels, gouache, acrylic and oils, she explores subtle distortion and strong line within her paintings and drawings. Her work is of self-form, still-life studies and botanics that are common to the immediate environment. Her father, who introduced her to still life and figurative at a young age, has been her main inspiration and constant teacher. Natalie graduated from UWA with Honours in Anthropology and in 2013 was awarded an Artist in Residency in Italy. She works as a self-employed community artist in a range of sectors, and paints from her home studio on the west coast. You can see more of her work at www.nataliescholtzart. com; instagram.com/scholtzart and facebook.com/ nataliescholtzart
ries have utifully d with llustrations fessional m around and New Each artist a story to heir work.
Marni Walker Marni Walker is a small-town lover of words and pictures, and is currently completing a Bachelor of Illustration and Cultural Studies at Curtin University. She grew up in Geraldton, and spends most of her time at the beach: sketching, reading or listening. Fragments of conversations from bars and cafes litter her work, and her preferred mediums are watercolour and coffee stains. Her practice is focused on the concept of dislocation and human connection through stories, which she explores through posting and questioning visually, under the alias of Paper and Dust. You can follow her on Facebook, or send her an email at marnijwalker@gmail.com
Kymba Burrows Kymba the illustrator has a simple and organic style of illustration that captures hearts and imaginations. She is based in Bangalow, near Byron Bay, where she runs a boutique creative agency and studio shop. A traveller and self-confessed idealist, she draws inspiration from the abundance of nature at her doorstep: lush hinterlands, beaches and coastal estuaries, with migrating whales and resident shorebirds. Kymba has a passion for capturing the joy in ordinary things with her quirky, freehand illustration style. You can see more of her work and sign up to receive illustrated postcards from Kymba delivered to your inbox at www.kymba.com.au
This publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced without prior written permission from the publisher. Requests and enquiries concerning production and rights should be addressed to Community Arts Network Ltd, PO Box 7514, Cloisters Square, WA 6850 or admin@canwa.com.au.
© 2015 Community Arts Network Ltd
Published and produced by CAN Cover Artwork by Emma Francesca Design by Emma Francesca Photography by Raina Savage, Anthea Da Silva, Joukje Mulder (Same, Same ... Different); Alana Pritchard (Halls Creek); Suresh Manievannan (Mind the Change); Brenda Ann Kenneally (Seeing, Sharing).
CAN Perth – Head Office King Street Arts Centre Ground floor 357–365 Murray Street, Perth WA 6000 PO Box 7514 Cloisters Square WA 6850 p | +61 (0)8 9226 2422 f | +61 (0)8 9226 2230 tollfree | 1800 681 021 e | admin@canwa.com.au
www.canwa.com.au ABN 72 106 364 407
canwa.com.au