Craigavon Hospital - Willows Ward (Over 60’s ward), Bluestone Unit
Title of Work: Life’s Road Trip – From Here to There
Facilitating Artist: Jill McKeown
Artist Jill McKeown: “Life’s Journey – From Here to There - Life’s Road Trip – This year’s theme suggested the journey through life up to the present day. I proposed a project which engaged the participants of the Willows Ward at the Bluestone Unit in Craigavon to think about significant stages of their lives which they would like to celebrate or remember -mapping points they have travelled to along the journey of their life. These ‘viewpoints’ were documented as individual postcards to themselves as reminders of these points and including up to the present and how this unusual time has formed part of life’s journey.
The participants created drawings, paintings and collage postcards which were installed in the courtyard garden for everybody to enjoy and later as a more permanent memory map installation making both emotional and physical connections between similar points in all of our lives. It was lovely to see the participants become more positive as they grew in confidence in their own abilities both to create the artwork and express themselves and their ideas”.
Staff member: “the social aspect of this project has been great, with people feeling comfortable in the group. We have watched people find hidden talents. The patients find it very soothing and enjoyable and it gives them a focus. We enjoyed learning from each other by hearing everyone’s life’s experiences, but it is in a very relaxed way, with no pressure. People seem to relate more during this group than in other groups”.
Participant: “I really enjoyed talking about my own memories. The art was a learning experience and Jill, the artist said I had hidden talents. I did a bit of art at primary school a long time ago and the teacher said that my 'art was very solid', I took that to be a good thing”.
Another participant: "This has been great to have something to concentrate and focus on. I find it very hard to focus on anything these days, so have appreciated this so much." Another Participant: "I am enjoying the art classes. I find it very relaxing and I love to see how it turn out. It brings us all together and it gives us a bit of craic."
