|
Purro Birik - (Healthy Spirit)
Appendix D: Best Practice Project
No.2
Mosaic Mural Project -
NEAMI Splash Art Studio, St Vincent's Hospital Mental Services, and The Victorian Aboriginal
Health Service Mental Health Network
Background
The Koori Art Program at
Splash Art Studio
Splash Art Studio is funded
by the Department of Human Services to provide psychosocial rehabilitation
and support, through the arts, to people with a psychiatric disability, aged
16- 64 years, who are living in the cities of Banyule, Darebin, Whittlesea
or the Shire of Nillumbik. The studio is managed by the Neami Inc., a
community based disability support service providing a range of housing and
support services for people with a psychiatric disability in: the northern
and north eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
The Koori art program at
Splash commenced in 1996 with the support of the Victorian Aboriginal Adult
Mental Health Network. Since then, Koori people needing spiritual and
emotional support have participated in a range of art-based workshops and
events, including drawing, painting, sculpture, print-making, mosaics,
gallery visits, exhibitions, field trips' and community festivals.
The Mural Project
March-November 1998
The mural project was an
initiative of VAAMHN,
St Vincent's Mental Health Service and Neami Splash Art Studio.
The project brief was to create a space which was welcoming to Aboriginal
patients and their visitors, to celebrate Koori culture and to provide a
focal point for the diversity of cultures within
St Vincent's Mental Health
Service through a community arts project. The space defined by the project
was an 80 metre squared brick wall in the courtyard area of St Vincent's
Mental Health Service, which is used by patients and visitors for meeting,
talking, relaxation and recreation. In December 1997 members of the Koori
art program at Splash were invited to participate in the design and
construction of a mosaic mural for the courtyard. Following approval of the
design by the Victorian Aboriginal Mental Health Network and St Vincent's
Mental Health Service, patients at
St Vincent's Mental Health Service were invited to participate
in weekly on-site mosaic mural workshops.
|
