The 2009 Creative Connections Art and Poetry Exhibition will be held at Centro Galleria Shopping Centre in Morley, during shopping trading hours, from 13th to 15th August 2009.
Launch of Exhibition (with guest speakers and poets - Liana Christensen, Glen Phillips, Fran Gresley), 6pm, Thursday 13th August
Poetry Readings, and meet the poets and artists, 1 pm, Saturday 15th August
Our aims are:
Creative Connections is a not-for-profit organisation.
We believe art and poetry are important ways for people to express themselves creatively and we want to give artists with disabilities the opportunity to do this and to connect with the community and each other. Working with local poets to achieve these aims has proved to be ideal. In particular, we want this to apply to high-needs DSC clients/residents, as it was felt that these people have the least amount of opportunity to express themselves creatively and to connect with the community.
Since it first began in 2007, Creative Connections has grown, and is now organised by a team of people, including poets, parents of Disability Services Commission (DSC) clients/residents, DSC workers and community members.
The artists are residents of facilities at:
McDonald Studio, The Centre for Cerebral Palsy in Joondanna
Norwich Hostel in Bull Creek
Bristol Hostel in Yokine
Lilacdale Rd Hostel (formerly Sussex Hostel) in Karrinyup
Booker Group Home in Dianella
Belstead Group Home in Noranda
The hostels were involved in the 2007 and 2008 exhibitions. We are excited that the group homes and McDonald Studio have been added for the 2009 exhibition.
“…for me as a poet I feel absolutely that I have been given a priceless gift from each artist … A fantastic way to be inspired and create something new. Each half of the creative connection pair is equal in that process. This is the real heart of art.” ~ Liana Christensen
“…what a gratifying experience it is to be involved in a project such as this. Writing to all the artworks was an absolute joy and I hope I have summed up my experience with the poem I wrote to Lisa’s art about the butterfly effect; nothing can happen in life without there being a butterfly effect and all the artists created something in me and you that leaves us forever changed.” ~ Saz Campbell
“I swear that magic happened that day.” ~ Flora Smith
