the THERAPEUTIC artist
This group exhibition brings together professional creative arts therapists who explore the intersection between artist and therapeutic practice, through thought-provoking individual artworks.
DONNA HEDSTRÖM GOLD
Donna is a senior arts therapist/play therapist and Director of Arts Therapy Spectrum; she is also an artist and adventurer. While Donna’s style is still emerging, she enjoys working inter-modally, using mixed media materials but favours oil painting where time permits.
Donna is drawn to art as a way of connecting with others and as a vehicle to have a conversation through the senses where words can fail us. Freedom, connection, and ‘what makes us human’ drives much of her work.
Mapping the Landscape is a series of works by artist Donna Hedström Gold. In these images Donna has used mixed media to offer an abstract twist on traditional landscape painting. The idea of mapping the landscape is a metaphor of working therapeutically with another.
One of the most important parts of therapy are getting to know the client’s personal landscape, there are many ways that a therapist can walk with another in their world discovering parts. The therapist then reflects this back to the client, so they get to understand themselves better.
Overview I
56cm x 33cm
Mixed media on watercolour paper
DONNA HEDSTRÖM GOLD
$340
Overview II
56cm x 38cm
Mixed media on watercolour paper
DONNA HEDSTRÖM GOLD
$340
Digging Deeper I
40cm x 40cm
Mixed media on watercolour paper
DONNA HEDSTRÖM GOLD
$340
Digging Deeper Ii
40cm x 40cm
Mixed media on watercolour paper
DONNA HEDSTRÖM GOLD
$340
Uncovering the layers I
40cm x 40cm
Ink, watercolour, and thread on calico
DONNA HEDSTRÖM GOLD
$340
Digging Deeper III
60 x 84cm
Mixed media on watercolour paper
DONNA HEDSTRÖM GOLD
$440
Uncovering layers II
80 x 64cm
Ink, watercolour, and thread on calico
DONNA HEDSTRÖM GOLD
$440 SOLD
GEORGIE MADDOX
Georgie Maddox uses art as a metaphor for transformation after damage has occurred.
To create these works, Maddox purposefully fragments oil paintings before carefully mending them back together with hand stitched linen thread. In this way, Maddox’s work seeks to remind the viewer that even after damage has occurred, a new aesthetic can emerge.
These abstract works invite conversation about the nature of healing, transformation, and the visual arts. As Maddox states “Visual art has unique qualities that are fundamental to our health and wellbeing; it serves a purpose beyond food, water, shelter or any other simple physical necessity. Art is an innate non-verbal tool that allows us to connect, convey, challenge and communicate ideas with one another, even in the absence of others”.
Henley
49cm x 51cm
Oil on canvas with linen thread
GEORGIE MADDOX
$380
Hinterland Development
72.5cm x 67.5cm
Oil on canvas with linen thread
GEORGIE MADDOX
$920
McLaren Vale
45cm x 114cm
Oil on canvas with linen thread
GEORGIE MADDOX
$820 SOLD
Urban City Development
37cm x 80cm
Oil on canvas with linen thread
GEORGIE MADDOX
SOLD
Fleurieu Peninsula Development
101cm x 131cm
Oil on canvas with linen thread
GEORGIE MADDOX
$1800
Urban Coastline Development
Oil on canvas with linen thread
37cm x 80cm
GEORGIE MADDOX
$780
ALEX LING
Alex is trained in fine art and design; in his earlier years he spent some time designing houses. The regimented expectation of “perfect” works led to personal art-making as a challenge to these boundaries, opening the way for expressions of observation without the looming overseers of shackled corporate necessity.
Right down to the use of “imperfect” canvas and materials, Alex responds to lack of detail in commercial artwork via detail that seeks the viewer’s attention to minute, often passed over semantics of existence, which may open pathways for greater understanding of the self and others.
The triad of smaller studies invite emotional states to be considered in no particular order, as all combinations of separate sensory experiential expressions are valid in any chronological order. This reflects the need to observe and listen, immerse oneself and dwell within the moment, without urgency to respond.
The larger piece reflects on observation, looking behind the larger presentation to find small detail which can expand an image that at first seems straightforward, to a complex, many- facetted collection of information to consider.
Maelstrom
30x60cm
ALEX LING
Acrylic on canvas
$240
Raindance
30x60cm
Acrylic on canvas
ALEX LING
$225
Solace
30x60cm
Acrylic on canvas
ALEX LING
$265
Pupylation
100x100cm
Enamel & inks on canvas
ALEX LING
$390
JOANNE AHRENS
Joanne is drawn to nature and the seasonal changes that occur throughout her favourite season of Autumn, which brought her to explore life’s changes and transitions through this triptych.
As an Arts Therapist, Joanne explores growth and change in her therapy practice alongside her clients. Personally, and professionally change is interconnected, bringing effort, challenges, adaption, grief, and fear.
Leaves fall silently or launch themselves from branches by the wind, exhausted from their place, they are no longer required. A time to let go and move forward, trusting that life evolves.
Transitions can be ugly and beautiful. The forms featured in “Leaves of Change’ are repurposed from a past work. Recreation, transformation, and evolution have been embraced in the process.
The Leaves of Change Triptych - Release
50 x 50cm
Acrylic on calico
JOANNE AHRENS
$180
The Leaves of Change Triptych - Softening
50 x 50cm
Acrylic on calico
JOANNE AHRENS
$180
The Leaves of Change Triptych - Evolving
50 x 50cm
Acrylic on calico
JOANNE AHRENS
$180
AARON LENG
Invoking a process of creation, destruction, and re-integration, the artist reflects on themes of meaning-making and growth, providing a visual analogy for the experience of therapy.
In creating this body of work, the artist destroyed older artwork, then meticulously reconstructed the artwork while working across a range of scales.
The repetition and the time invested calls to mind the psychological and emotional effort associated with working through issues within the context of therapy.
From initiates a conversation centred upon personal origins and narratives, while charting limitless future trajectories.
From - Panel 1
122cm x 80cm
Mixed Media on Wooden Panel
AARON LENG
$2450
From - Panel 2
122cm x 80cm
Mixed Media on Wooden Panel
AARON LENG
$2450
From - Panel 3
122cm x 80cm
Mixed Media on Wooden Panel
AARON LENG
$2450
Prologue
42cm x 30cm
Mixed Media on Paper
AARON LENG
$585
Time and…
30cm x 21cm
Mixed Media on Paper
AARON LENG
$295
and tide…
30cm x 21cm
Mixed Media on Paper
AARON LENG
$295
and daylight…
30cm x 21cm
Mixed Media on Paper
AARON LENG
$295
dawning and…
30cm x 21cm
Mixed Media on Paper
AARON LENG
$295
Beginnings and…
30cm x 21cm
Mixed Media on Paper
AARON LENG
$295
and introductions…
30cm x 21cm
Mixed Media on Paper
AARON LENG
$295
Angela Coombs
Golden repair is a series of mixed media abstract works by creative artist Angela Coombs. Inspired by the ancient Japanese art of Kintsugi the repairing of broken pottery with gold joinery. Not just repairing the damage but highlighting the break as something unique and beautiful.
By embracing our imperfections and celebrating the flaws we can repair ourselves and reach our full potential. A powerful metaphor for what art therapy can achieve through art making to enhance wellbeing and personal healing.
Honouring the cracks 1
8cm x10cm (set of 3)
Mixed media flow painting on canvas
ANGELA COOMBS
$240 (set)
HONOURING THE CRACKS 2
Mixed media flow painting on canvas
ANGELA COOMBS
$280 (set)
Golden join
Mixed media flow painting on canvas
ANGELA COOMBS
$240 (Set)
Jess Bennett
Jess collects the traces left behind after an arts therapy session. Just as a palette gives us insight into the painter’s processes, so does the disposable wipe hold the narrative of the session.
The moments of pause and reflection when we clean our brush, the frenzied attempt to fix the accidental spill, the colours chosen on that very day are all important aspects of the therapeutic process.
The resin lends permanence and transparency to these disposal objects, capturing the strength, vulnerability, resilience, insight, and creation that was expressed in the session.
REMNANTS
Remnant #1
17cmx9cm
Disposable wipe, acrylic paint, resin
JESS BENNETT
$120
Remnant #2
21cmx17cm
Disposable wipe, acrylic paint, resin
JESS BENNETT
$120
Remnant #3
15cmx13cmx9cm
Disposable wipe, acrylic paint, resin
JESS BENNETT
$120
Collective
70cmx52cm
Disposable wipe, acrylic paint, ink, oil pastel, glitter, cotton thread, resin
JESS BENNETT
SOLD
LINEAGE
The Lineage series is inspired by the ancestral lines that inform our life paths. Some lay beneath ancient dust- undisturbed for generations, others lay in welltrodden ravines, ever present in our daily narrative. Whether it be the stories passed down, the genes we’ve inherited or the circumstances we’ve been born into, we tread in the spaces carved out by those who came before us.
Working alongside folk in the therapeutic space to understand familial patterns and their impact on the ways in which we move in the world is an important aspect to the work we do as Arts therapists.
Familial Bonds
50cm
Acrylic paint, ink, watercolour pencil on canvas
JESS BENNETT
$380
Connections
50cm
Acrylic paint, ink, watercolour pencil on canvas
JESS BENNETT
$380
PATTERNS
50cm
Acrylic paint, ink, watercolour pencil on canvas
JESS BENNETT
$380
New beginnings
20cm
Acrylic paint, enamel paint, ink, watercolour pencil on wooden board
JESS BENNETT
SOLD
Tracks
30cm
Acrylic paint, enamel paint, ink, watercolour pencil on canvas
JESS BENNETT
$180
Shifting
30cm
Acrylic paint, enamel paint, ink, watercolour pencil on wooden board
JESS BENNETT
$180
ANGELA LISMAN
Angela is our administration officer and brings the connection of therapy as practice, not as a therapist but a recipient. Living in DV for over 30 years Angela has use art to heal herself, supporting PTSD, Anxiety, self-esteem also aiding in the navigation through many of life’s other issues.
Angela is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist practising in Photography, Oil painting, Acrylics, and water colour. “Art heals not as a process of thinking about it, but in a way to let everything out in a positive way, getting lost in the art of something relaxes your brain and calms the nervous system, this helps to string together your thoughts in a kinder way”.
These works are created using the mindful practise of letting go, using water colour, pastels, chalk, pen, marker.
Grounded
56cm x 76cm
Mixed media on Cotton Fibre
ANGELA LISMAN
$520
Walk through a forest
30cm x 42cm
Mixed media on watercolour paper
ANGELA LISMAN
$320
Life in motion
32cmx42cm
Mixed media on watercolour paper
ANGELA LISMAN
$320
Ocean Stroll
30cm x 42cm
Mixed media on watercolour paper
ANGELA LISMAN
$320
QUESTION EVERYTHING
Photographic print
Angela Lisman
$80
STRENGTH
Photographic print
Angela Lisman
$150
COURAGE
Photographic print
Angela Lisman
$80
Heart all in one
Photographic print
Angela Lisman
$90
EFFORTLESS
Photographic print
Angela Lisman
$80
LIMITLESS
Photographic print
Angela Lisman
$90
BLOOM
Photographic print
Angela Lisman
$110
Claire Mckee
Claire Mckee reflects on her experience of creativity through the undulating landscape of life.
As an arts therapist Claire deeply understands the link between connection to self, creative process and healing for her clients and herself. She has captured the polarities between the two pieces; the painting being done at a time in life of creative abundance, informed by healthy mental wellbeing and balance.
In comparison to the sculptural work which was done after a time of creative desolation in the wake of grief and loss.
The pottery speaks to her sense of illusive and fragmented creativity, at a time when making meaning seemed difficult, however the piece marks a re-build after a 12-month inability to create.
Re-create
21cm x 16cm
Porcelain
CLAIRE MCKEE
$220
SOLD
Balance and synergy
101cm x 67cm
Ink, acrylic, pastel, charcoal, and pencil on canvas
CLAIRE MCKEE
$280
