A Forest View Care residents charming artwork exhibition is currently delighting visitors at the Childers Library.
Throughout 2023 Forest View Care focused on stimulation and development of the right brain via arts, crafts and design in the lifestyle program.
Forest View Care Lifestyle Manger Chanelle Robinson said she has had some personal experience with painting and decided to trial a painting class with residents.
Chanelle said most of the residents were hesitant as they had never painted before, but were surprised and proud of their first artwork ‘Poppies in the Field’ created for an Anzac Day display.
From there the painting sessions took off with residents completing one painting a month, practicing different techniques and styles.
Chanelle said their artistic journey consisted of painting landscapes, fantasy, underwater, geometric, cartoon style and sunsets.
She said as adults living with a cognitive impairment and other limitations this was a massive achievement, overcoming huge barriers to produce their artworks.
Chanelle said watching the personality of each resident come out in their painting style was one of the positive outcomes from the painting sessions.
“The community has been so supportive of all our residents’ creative endeavours, from rock painting to submissions in the show, to now an art exhibition,” she said.
“Creativity takes courage, it is a scary thing to put your first ever artworks out in the public to be viewed by the community.
“I would like to congratulate our residents on this achievement and thank them for pushing past their struggles, frustrations and fears to reach this special milestone.
“Our goal is to provide continual vivacious and exciting opportunities for our residents to invest their time into, we will look for ways to give back to the Childers community in 2024.”
Hosted by the Childers Library, paintings are road-facing in the window to allow for family, friends and visitors to view outside business hours.
The Forest View Care resident artwork exhibition is on display until Friday 16 February.
Discover more about the Bundaberg Regional Libraries here.
