ARTISTS Holly Would and Charlie McLean are inviting the community to explore mental health and healing through creativity.<\/p>\n
They have been holding fortnightly workshops at TBH Studio where participants are asked to explore their experiences and express them creatively.<\/p>\n
Would was inspired by her own lived experience to start the group sessions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI myself use creativity to manage my mental health as I have complex PTSD and art has always been the only thing that made sense in those dark moments,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI lost my brother to suicide in 2018 and at that time I was just pumping art out and my actual tears were going into those prints I was doing at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
The workshops have become a space where people are able to feel comfortable and safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe start each session with a little check in to see how everyone is going and they\u2019re able to feel safe,\u201d said Would.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve seen the quietest, most shy people feel comfortable in this space and I feel so proud of that.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s become this peer support thing as well so the art might have got them here but it\u2019s actually about creating connections.\u201d<\/p>\n
Would said art is a great outlet as it allows people to express themselves without judgement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith art there are no rules, there\u2019s no competition and you can\u2019t win or lose so there\u2019s this place and freedom to express yourself that you can\u2019t get wrong,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re being you and expressing you it\u2019s impossible to get wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
Karter Aver is one of the workshop\u2019s participants and said the events have significantly impacted his life.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been able to grow out of my anxious shell, connect with others, improve my artwork and express myself,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one\u2019s going to judge anyone for being shy and we\u2019re all kind of messed up one way or another.\u201d<\/p>\n
The workshops have been a way for Aver to let go and share his deepest thoughts.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wrote down everything that I kept inside, put it in a little book and took it home and burnt it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was amazing, and it felt so freeing like I had that weight off me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Would and McLean have two sessions left. On Friday 29 September they will be using art to explore substance abuse problems and on Friday 13 October the session will focus on eating disorders.<\/p>\n