The Arts

Last night, 29 April 2020, I was invited to speak at the AGM for Arts Access Victoria (AAV). This came about due to my nomination in the Creative category of the Stroke Awards and because AAV were instrumental in helping me access NDIS. AAV also encouraged me to look at my art as something I could pursue.

The Arts cover such a broad spectrum including, but not limited to; music, dance, drawing, painting, architecture, poetry, film making, photography, and literature. When you think about the history of art, from the first cave paintings, through to what has been opened up to us with our latest technologies, the importance of art on civilisations and their cultures becomes apparent.

The importance of the Arts, in the way that it heals, gives a voice and empowers, both the community and one’s self, is immeasurable. Emotions can be expressed, beauty can be found but due to its subjective nature it can be as dividing as it is unifying. For some people creating art is an ever pressing need whilst, for others, being able to observe these works satisfies them. Just as the artist has used their creation as their voice, the observer responds to what they are facing and uses their own experiences to create meaning and sometimes different perspectives from what was the artist’s intention.

A person can only create a written text if they can think the words and to think those word they need to have had experiences that have allowed them to be exposed to such thoughts. This is part of the reason why The Arts are such an important part of a child’s learning and need to be considered a priority in the school curriculum; they offer opportunities to express, create and hone fine motor skills. These same reasons are also why I believe they should be part of a person’s rehab.

For as long as I can remember I have been creating. Drawing with coloured pencils is something I had loved when I was a child. As a teenager I could often be found drawing pictures of the local birds and, along with my horse, my Derwent pencils were my prized possessions. But, as is the case for many people, life got busy and I hadn’t really drawn anything since I was about 20.

At an AAV event I attended, the question was asked, “How would you feel if you were no longer able to do your art.” On sharing my response I burst into tears as I didn’t have to imagine how I would feel; I had experienced this and I remember how desolate and lost I had felt. Amongst other things, my stroke had taken away my ability to knit, cross stitch, read books, sing, and listen to music.

With time and practice, I began to relearn some of the skills I had lost. I’d ample experience of the activities pre-stroke but I needed to be exposed to ways of learning that would allow me create once again. With the assistance of youtube, various manuals and one-on-one teaching I’ve since relearnt to knit and cross stitch, I’m now not so worried about reading books and I still hope one day to be able to sing and enjoy music as I did before.

Having a stroke, and subsequently not being able to work, meant I could now explore if my love of drawing still existed. And so it was that I began having art lessons. I discovered that my sense of perception had changed, my ability to see some colours was altered but more importantly I realised how much l still loved drawing. Whilst I might get a bit stressed if something isn’t ‘looking right’ the therapeutic benefits are obvious to myself; I feel calmer and happier when cocooned in my world of paper and pencils.

Without knowing what circumstances or limitations have been enforced upon an individual, I encourage people to look to The Arts. Look at the beauty in nature, take photos, write, play an instrument, start a garden, draw, sculpt or enjoy what other people have created. Remember, due to its subjective nature, there really is no ‘bad’ art, it is a personal perspective and along the way you may find something that resonates with you, be it as an observer or a creator.