“I don’t see disability – I see great art.”
This comment from a visitor to our Art Exhibition sums up the amazing response of people to the 105 artworks on display.
The paintings, sculptures, drawings, collages, prints, ceramics and mosaics represented a profusion of talent from people we support and their supporters. In all, more than 60 artists submitted pieces on the theme of ‘What makes me smile’ for the exhibition in the Robert Phillips Gallery at Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre, Walton-on-Thames.
Colourful and diverse, the exhibition ran from 20 November to 1 December, attracting some 180+ visitors over the 12 days.
“It has a very apt title – you can’t help but smile as you go around.”
“I couldn’t fault anything. You can see the concentration behind the work. It really is a fantastic exhibition.”
Exhibits included eight pieces from Ruth, a person we support who has ambitions to be a professional artist. Within two days she had sold two of her items, donating the money to cancer charities.
Collaborative pieces of artwork by people we support with profound and multiple learning disabilities shows what can be achieved with inclusivity, co-production and connection.
People from Achieve together’s Educational Day Service Bath put many pieces forward from both people supported and team members. This service supports people who are deaf or deafblind with complex needs and has a proud history of artistic endeavour.
Team members at Achieve together also displayed a varied body of artwork ranging from digital drawings to paintings to work in pen and graphite.
Universal praise
Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre is keen to support its local community including primary and secondary schools. One local school for autistic children, Ashley Park, arranged trips for five of its classes as inspiration for artistic projects.
Education and Gallery Manager Tryphena Russel said: “Anyone who has viewed ‘What makes me smile’ has loved it. It was universally well received. A few regulars said it was one of the best exhibitions they have seen here.
“You can see visitors were really taking it in. Each piece is really different with a different story so there’s lots to look at and consider.”
At the exhibition’s open evening, artists were clearly very proud to see their art on display and supporters were full of praise for the work on show. Theo and his Support Worker Min had both submitted paintings of birds which they have been working on side by side.
Director of Wellbeing, Strategy and Collaboration, Michael Fullerton, said: “We were really pleased with the interest in the exhibition from artists and visitors. It was a fantastic effort by everyone to create art that makes them smile, with some lovely stories emerging of people working together and independently. Being creative supports mental and physical wellbeing, both of which are key themes of our person-centred framework, the Wheel of Engagement.
“We are very grateful for the support of Riverhouse Barn for providing such a wonderful space and for helping us group and hang the work. It’s been a wonderful and very fulfilling project enjoyed by so many across our homes in England and Wales.”
