The art of self-discovery at Friends of Wagga Wagga Art Gallery

Billed as a spiritual odyssey of self-discovery and art healing, Friends of Wagga Wagga Art Gallery is offering a six-week mandala workshop headed by gallery assistant Maryanne Gray.

A mandala (Sanskrit for circle) has no set definition. It is an artistic representation of higher thought and deeper meaning depicted through geometric symbols used in spiritual, emotional or psychological work to focus one’s attention. There is also no set form – it appears in the art and architecture in one form or another of various cultures worldwide.

Ms Gray said she was grateful the workshop was funded by the Riverina Waters’ Community Grants Program.

“It is good to be supported by the Galley and The Curious Rabbit,” Ms Gray said.

The idea to hold mandala workshops came when the former visual arts teacher wanted to pass on her knowledge of the art form. Making personal mandalas had been part of her art therapy training.

The workshop is open to all, especially those who would like to try therapeutic art. No artistic background is needed.

“It is more about the internal process for the participants to feel comfortable,” Ms Gray said.

“I will show the participants techniques to help create their symbols.”

Ms Gray said she also hopes the workshop will help reignite artists who have stopped their practices for whatever reason.

The gallery assistant will take a therapeutic approach to the workshop using meditation, visualisation and dream techniques to help participants discover their personal symbology.

“It is also about discovering what makes participants connect with the world and how they see themselves,” she said.

Ms Gray said her love of nature and dancing often inspired her mandalas.

“Symbols came in dreams and some I visually saw in the environment and brought them all together, creating in the form of mandalas,” she said.

Participants of the workshop will get the opportunity to build art skills in mixed media or on paper and learn how to develop ideas in a visual art journal.

The teacher of more than 25 years is looking forward to the upcoming workshop as it will be her first time teaching how to create mandalas.

Ms Gray currently runs programs at the gallery where she teaches yoga and movement classes and Wiradjuri creative programs.

She undertook art therapy with incarcerated men in correctional facilities in Melbourne before moving back to Wagga.

The Wagga local has worked in several places including remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territories as an art teacher and ESL teacher.

She later moved to Melbourne, completed her Diploma in Art Therapy and worked with disengaged high school students, where she also taught music.

Ms Gray decided to take up art therapy after seeing how the creative arts were therapeutic for people and on her journey, discovered creative forms helped her own mental health.

Friends of Wagga Wagga Art Gallery president Vickie Burkinshaw said she is looking forward to the workshop and the participants’ journeys to uncover or rediscover their artistic abilities and create personal mandalas they can be proud of.

“It is also about coming together to create a safe space for conversation and making new friends,” she said.

Ms Burkinshaw said it is also important that post-Covid, people have reasons to get out of the house.

Places in the workshop are $240 for adults and $150 for concessions and will include two-hour sessions for six weeks from Sunday 19 June. For more information on the workshop and to book, contact Friends of Wagga Wagga Art Gallery via their Facebook.