A NEW exhibition is bringing a former nurse\u2019s encapsulation on the healing stages of grief to bare on the walls of the Unicorn Lane outdoor gallery.<\/p>\n
Dying to Heal is artist Nikkole Weightman\u2019s solo exhibition debut, and she said it\u2019s about getting more people to think about their mental health and its relationship with grief.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, it\u2019s about mental health awareness,\u201d she said. \u201cI worked in palliative care for about 18 months and saw a lot of people working through grief.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt also came out of my own personal mental health stuff. I think of this as one big picture put into one exhibition. There\u2019s a symbol of growth with the trees.\u201d<\/p>\n
The show features 10 graphite and watercolour paintings, three of which are part of a series, with most depicting single trees that represent different stages of grief.<\/p>\n
Weightman explored art during her teenage years but put it aside during her nursing studies before returning to it in mid-2020 with the launch of craft business her Nicclay Creations.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was working in ICU emergency at the time when I picked it back up,\u201d she said. \u201cI had seven weeks off work for mental health reasons which was when I started picking it back up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always tried to make time for art before but it\u2019s quite busy being a nurse.\u201d<\/p>\n
Weightman currently combines her art skills with her carer experience in coordinating an art program at West End Support Services in Delacombe.<\/p>\n
She said it\u2019s exciting to see how people react to her debut show.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a bit daunting for me when I first got offered this but it\u2019s been really good and I\u2019ve had some good feedback,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a bit surreal seeing people look at it. I think it\u2019s really about personal growth and healing. That\u2019s my interpretation, everyone\u2019s is very different though.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dying to Heal is on display until Tuesday, 23 May.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A NEW exhibition is bringing a former nurse\u2019s encapsulation on the healing stages of grief to bare on the walls of the Unicorn Lane outdoor gallery. Dying to Heal is artist Nikkole Weightman\u2019s solo exhibition debut, and she said it\u2019s about getting more people to think about their mental health and its relationship with grief. […]<\/p>\n