Kerri Weymouth works on her art at Griffith Plaza. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Coleambally artist Kerri Weymouth has invited locals to put their thumbprints, messages, names and images on a painting she is creating that will be displayed at the Griffith Community Centre.
Ms Weymouth was working on her art at a community services expo at Griffin Plaza on Friday 21 October. She invited those passing by to make their own contributions.
“I’ve done a painting of a heart, hands and people joining together. I’ll put a ribbon on there. Some people are putting their names and some are adding some words,” Ms Weymouth said.
“Hopefully I can get it done in a few weeks, as long as I can get back into Griffith and don’t get flooded out.”
Meg McGreal and Bernie Kidd make their mark. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Griffith Community Centre hosts a range of low-cost programs and free support groups. Centre coordinator Peta Dummett had the idea of displaying art that would sum up the organisation.
“We’d heard about something similar in Melbourne – a person was doing street art and inviting people to make their contributions. We thought we could do something similar here. It’s a visual reminder that we are a community centre and we are here to represent the community. It’s a representation of how the community thinks and feels,” she said.
Ms Weymouth was the logical choice as the artist for this project. She has been doing art therapy classes at the centre, which is a form of counselling utilising art-based activities to enhance mental, physical, and emotional well-being through creative expression.
“Growing up I had some mental health problems, I used art to help me overcome traumas in my life. I enjoy working with community. I thought, rather than just doing art classes, I wanted to do something that would help people … that’s when I started researching and learned about art therapy.”
After completing her Masters of Therapeutic Art Practice, Ms Weymouth set up a studio at the centre.
Kerri Weymouth works on her painting. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
“In my classes, I do a bit of meditation first to get people grounded before we get into the process of doing the art. I use clay or paint or drawing or just grab any sort of different thing. It isn’t about making pretty pictures, it’s about using what’s there and what they are drawn to to create what they want.”
Ms Weymouth’s community artwork is on display at the Griffin Plaza and will be moved to Griffith Community Centre in the coming weeks, where locals will have a final opportunity to make their contribution before it is hung up. Those interested are asked to keep an eye on the Griffith Community Centre Facebook page.
If you’d like to find out more about what support groups or programs the centre has to offer, you can message them through their Facebook page or call them during office hours on weekdays on (02) 6962 4144. You can also wander into the centre at 1 Olympic Street (next to the pool) at any time it is open.
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