By Bryan Eneas

Local artists featured in Healing Journey gallery

May 9, 2018 | 8:00 AM

Works created during art therapy sessions are featured at a local gallery through the month of May.

The Healing Journey art display, featuring painting, written work, photography, sketches, and sewing opened May 8 at the John V. Hicks art gallery. Tammie Leonard, the writing instructor for North Saskatchewan Acquired Brain Injury Services, said she learned a lot while working with her students to create therapeutic art.

“The greatest thing that I learned from them was the resilience,” Leonard said. “They have an incredible strength, gratitude for all, and the positivity in the room every time we met was just amazing.”

The group’s meetings were a safe place for people to write, she said, and also a safe space where people could share and discuss their experiences with acquired brain injuries.

Leonard said everyone needs an outlet to express themselves, and art therapy served as a way for participants to share their stories. She said the Healing Journey gallery is a place where people could share their stories, their hard work, their experiences, passions, and strengths.

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Doug Kinar, executive director for the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Prince Albert branch, said it’s important for all people to have a healthy outlet for self-expression.

“It’s just fortunate that we operate the drop-in centre that we do. There’s an opportunity for people living with a mental illness to express themselves,” Kinar said. “Doing art … is a chance to show people how different people see the world.”

Randi Lamotte, a recreational therapist for mental health inpatient services, said her favourite part of working with the patients was seeing how they created a community. She said having their artwork on display created a sense of accomplishment while at the same time motivating patients to continue to create.

Trina Gerard, one of the artists featured in the show, spoke about her art and experience during the show’s opening.

“I would have never come back again and again and again, because I hate drawing,” Gerard said. “But it was fun, and every time I tried, I tried something new.”

The Healing Journey Gallery will be on display on the second floor of the John V. Hicks Art Gallery until the end of May.

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas