2021 Connection Art Show

1. Nurse
How the artwork was inspired by the theme, connection: During these trying times, the connection between nurse & patient has become more important than ever. Isolated from family, loved ones & friends, patients are lonely & vulnerable. From laughter to tears, special moments are shared between the nurse & patient. From the moment the patient wakes, until darkness falls, the first & last person the patient sees & hears is the nurse, providing empathy & compassion.

When I go home, I reflect on moments shared & feel privileged to have eased fear & suffering. I am beginning to face my own self & be kind & compassionate to myself, as I do unto others as a nurse.

2. The Fair
How the artwork was inspired by the theme connection: With restrictions & separation from family & friends, I reflect on & connect to the good old days. Connecting to childhood memories & how we would get together & watch the fireworks after going to the town fair. Young & free, just enjoying life, family & friends.

3. Connection
Found by footsteps, swooped from salty lake, lay stones scattered in nature’s watery wake. Baked by the sun, soothed by the stars, surfaces ground smooth – freckled by scars. Painted and jostled the spaces aligned, a re-occurring theme abstractly defined. Shaped like an organ, pipi and wing, in your mind’s eye – it can be anything!

4. A Connecting Story
Throughout one’s progress in their journey of their own recovery of one’s mental health, everyone connects to something in their own way. For me I found a connection with mindfulness. There are many ways to practice mindfulness, Zentangles being one of them, which I was introduced to during my inpatient stay. The theme connection has inspired me to further this skill into a series of works that all connect, telling my own story. This has enable me to believe in myself.

5. Together we heal
Everything and everyone are connected in some way or another. There are days when our mind disconnects from everything - but even then, the mind is still connecting. Connecting is a powerful tool. During the process of this drawing I was able to connect with my emotions through my hands and recognise my own and others mental health illnesses. The connection theme reinforces that no one is alone and connecting equals healing.

6. Roof
It is fitting for the connection theme as it is about my mental health while working at stramit roofing making corrugated roof. The dark clouds and different patterns are me dealing with not going well in that particular job and the difficulties I faced. Art and painting serves as a kind of pressure release and I am able to get out my feelings as a kind of therapy.

7. Freya
Deep in the lockdown I seem to always find a bright spot in it, being laid off from my job deep in thought and reading I just enjoyed painting as a mental escape. It has multiple layers and underneath my 3 year old daughter Freya drew the patterns to help me with this. A connection with my daughter forever.

8. Rediscovering My Happy Place

I was an inpatient in Toronto's "Woodland's" Ward & it was during this time I was introduced to mindfulness & art therapy (along with all the other amazing sessions) that gave me back by positive but realistic connection to a life that I really thought I would never have again.
Never really understanding therefore never undertaking meditation at any level, my mind was busier than Times Square on New Year's Eve when I made the decision to go into Toronto Private Hospital.
Talking with Doctor's, therapists, nurses, attending as many sessions as possible including art therapy & being introduced into the world of mindfulness at a level I could understand, my new connection to looking & handling life began, I was reconnecting to my happy place and this was transformed from mind to paper over the last week of my stay. When I saw the word "Connection" I knew I had to enter my painting.

9. Boat
Is an image of a traditional The boat. I've not been there, but I started a business early this year and I have used this image to represent the face of my business.

10. Steps
I was struggling with my drinking. I knew I needed to come into hospital before the wheels fell off. I had a planned admission for 20th October and made the decision to bring the admission forward to 20th September. So I painted this frantically trying to control my drinking urges and waiting for the 20th September to come around. I finished it 2 days before I came in.

11. Growing Together
Mental Health has always been a struggle in my life. Recently I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and participated in a yearlong dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) program. The person symbol in the center depicts my journey and inner growth. Throughout the DBT program I re-established and strengthened relationships, so this work is in honor of all my close friends and family. This work is a reminder that I am loved and not alone.

Wow! What an amazing bunch of entries we received. Thank you to everyone who took time to enter our 2021 Connection art show.

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