WARRINGTON Bipolar UK Support Group is launching the 2nd Warrington Digital Art Competition on Vincent Van Gogh’s birthday, tomorrow, March 30.
It coincides with BipolarUK’s annual on-line conference in the afternoon while celebrating the birthday of one of the most famous Bipolar artists.
Former Mayor of Warrington Geoff Settle and co-facilitator of the group said: “When I became the 1st Digital Mayor of Warrington, I came up with the idea to follow on my 1st Watercolour Exhibition at the Latchford Picturesque Gallery of an on-line Art Competition.
“All people had to do was to upload a photo of their piece of Artwork on the theme of Warrington Heritage. Some joker had said in the national press that we didn’t have any heritage. To my great satisfaction, the people of the town delivered the goods, with paintings of the Manchester Ship Canal, Fiddler’s Ferry Yacht Club, the Barley Mow etc.”
This year the theme is “Starry Starry Night” in the style of the great Bipolar artist and is open to all.
Mark Moran, Geoff’s co-facilitator said: “Many people are still isolating, and homebound so it is something to take your mind off your mind and give you something to do.
“The closing date is at the end of summer in October, so you have six months to complete your work.”
Entry will be via Facebook or email and the photos will be stored in a Facebook Album that will be announced at the end of the competition when it will be open for voting. In return, the group would like people to donate to the Bipolar charity.
Full details will be announced soon but until then it’s get your brushes, paints and pencils out and start painting and drawing your very own “Starry starry Night.” It could be a Town Hall scene, a riverscape, nocturnal animals like hedgehogs, badgers whatever you like set under a starry night.
Geoff added: “Hopefully this will be something to lift people’s spirits. I am looking to have a couple of categories for example people with disability and prizes but that will be depending on the response and donations.
“One prize I’m trying to organize is a signed edition of Nicky Campbell’s book “One of the Family – Why a dog like Maxwell Changed My Life”. It’s a good read and I’m only up to page 39, I’ve yet to read about the impact living with Bipolar had on him but he looks a lot greyer.
“We have almost used up Warrington’s BipolarUK share of the money raised for my Mayoral Charities in 2016. It has been spent on renting a room once a month at the Gateway and stretched for five years.
“We need to top up the funds. I did join the CEO Simon Kitchen on the last stage of his mammoth walk alongside Hadrian’s Wall as far as my bad hips would allow. Having had one replaced I am keen to try something similar, but not as taxing as I don’t won’t to wear it out too soon and I need the other replacing so the Art Competition is something I can do from my PC.”
If you really can’t wait and want to know more then, email [email protected]. You can also suggest what would make good prizes.
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Thanks to Gary and the team for supporting the Warrington Bipolar Support Group and for pressing the message on the work that we do. We support people with Bipolar, their families and any carers who may need help also.
Bipolar with other mental health conditions are under the spotlight currently as a negative outcome of the pandemic but truth is, mental health concerns we already at pandemic levels so we really are in a crisis which requires further funding for our great services but medically and socially.
Its imperative we all work collaboratively to combat the impact of poor mental health on our communities, the discrimination and stigma people like those we serve suffer each and every day and to take the great work that is ongoing regarding talking about the issues through to action; getting the important help people need.
Thanks again Gary and Hannah for your support. It was also World Bipolar Day today and 4,000 people joined the annual on-line conference raising £10,000 which has secured next years event. The work that BipolarUK does is so important to the millions of UK sufferers.