Facilitating workshops alongside patients in the Mental Health Services for Older People (MHSOP)Ward, University Hospital Llandough, (Cardiff, May 2023)

A project working in Cardiff's Llandough hospital, with those living with dementia.

As a group of several Creative and Therapeutic Arts students, we both attended dementia awareness training courses, and got to know the ward and patients' interests via staff, to aid the design of two workshops for people on the male MHSOP ward, creating activity packs and materials to be left and used for patients' creative enjoyment beyond the workshops. Conversation, story sharing and making was had all round. A lot was learned about patients through the artmaking activity that staff on the ward didn't yet know, highlighting the therapeutic benefits creativity can have on connection, conversation and wellbeing. We also collaborated with the hospital's Hearth Gallery, making artworks based on interactions with patients on the MHSOP wards and celebrating 75 years of the NHS and the amazing staff, exhibiting our work between 10th May-19th June, 2023, where both staff and patients came to enjoy the artwork.

The painting I created (Whilst at Sea, acrylic on wood, 2023, 40 cm x 81 cm) was inspired by a wonderful interaction I had with one man on the ward. Over watercolour paints and tea, he taught me about the precision of painting and shared stories of his life. He told me about sailing with his father and brother on the ocean where he grew up. He was born in Dominica in the West Indies. I spent time and slowed down, remembering what he had taught me. During the process, I was inspired by the music of Dominica and its ocean. I later added a poem, using words and thoughts I had gathered from our conversations. It was delightful that he was there during our celebration and exhibition opening to cut the ribbon and unveil the artworks!

https://cardiffandvale.art/2023/05/15/affinity-a-celebration-of-connection/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Co1wLOhAfXi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CsRVI1hKv3c/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=ODhhZWM5NmIwOQ==