AN HONEST and thought-provoking artwork created by a local Parkinson\u2019s disease activist at a community group session will be displayed and honoured at the fifth World Parkinson Congress (WPC) in Kyoto, Japan this June.<\/p>\n
Michael \u2018Mike\u2019 Atkinson was experiencing what he describes as a \u201cParky day\u201d when he was attending a Painting with Parkinson\u2019s (PWP) class at Spring Creek Community House.<\/p>\n
Feeling deflated by his condition and unable to continue the painting he was trying to progress with, Mr Atkinson took a new expressive direction.<\/p>\n
\u201cI immediately painted over it with a black wash and proceeded to paint in white watercolour all of my Parkinson\u2019s feelings,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cParkinson\u2019s is the most stupid disease \u2013 it\u2019s unpredictable and has no consistency. Some days I get up and feel perfectly OK, I can get out and about and do the grocery shopping. But the next day, I can hardly move. It\u2019s like a cloud over your head, a depression sort of thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Atkinson\u2019s artwork titled \u201cNo Parky\u201d includes words such as slow, cold, stiff, tremor, fatigue, constipation, confused and shakes, just some of the mental challenges and debilitating symptoms he\u2019s forced to endure on a day-to-day basis.<\/p>\n
Known for throwing out his creations soon after completion, PWP coordinator and art therapist Janelle Da Silva encouraged Mr Atkinson to keep his powerful artwork and share it beyond the classroom.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I saw Mike\u2019s painting, I thought it was an absolutely brilliant piece of work that\u2019s so incredibly honest,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always tell the group that it\u2019s important to find honesty in whatever they\u2019re doing, and that it\u2019s not about the finished product, but the process.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just thought this is so telling \u2013 vulnerable, challenging and compelling. The fact that it\u2019s simple with no frills makes it even more relatable for other sufferers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Named as a WPC 2019 ambassador alongside Young @ Park founder Karyn Spilberg, the pair will join 14 other ambassadors from 13 countries to share their stories and raise awareness for the incurable condition.<\/p>\n
Mr Atkinson will also bring another artwork created by the PWP group which features tulips, a motif used by many Parkinson\u2019s organisations worldwide.<\/p>\n
Interested in attending? Phone Mike on 0409 545 443 or email mikeatkinson@worldpdcoalition.org.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AN HONEST and thought-provoking artwork created by a local Parkinson\u2019s disease activist at a community group session will be displayed and honoured at the fifth World Parkinson Congress (WPC) in Kyoto, Japan this June. Michael \u2018Mike\u2019 Atkinson was experiencing what he describes as a \u201cParky day\u201d when he was attending a Painting with Parkinson\u2019s (PWP) […]<\/p>\n