TO mark World Mental Health Day (Oct 10) former Mayor and co-facilitator of the Warrington Bipolar Support Group, Geoff Settle has launched voting for a Van Gogh “Peace of Mind” art competition.
World Mental Health Day is observed on 10th October every year by the World Federation of Mental Health. The main objective of the day is to raise awareness on mental health issues that affect people living across the globe and to find ways to improve mental health.
Geoff, a former Mayor and co-facilitator of the Warrington Bipolar Support Group, said “I decided to launch an Art Competition on Van Gogh’s birthday with a closing date of World Mental Health Day. Van Gogh is one of the most famous Bipolar people and art is a good distraction that can be an aid to improved mental health.
“The competition is “Peace of Mind,” and this year’s theme is “Stary Stary Night”. I chose Van Gogh because he is the world’s most famous bipolar person and an inspirational artist. I wanted to see what work local artists would produce and I have not been let down, especially by Blooming Art students. The children’s entries are wonderful some with an ahhh factor and the adult’s work is so professional. Their mentor’s vision is for “Happiness, laughter, and a safe place to let our colour shine as bright as the stars” perfect for the competition.”
Geoff has uploaded photographs of the entries into an album on the Facebook Page “BipolarUK Van Gogh Art Competition”, select Media and Albums and click on the first picture. Or you can click on the following link Facebook. Vote for your favourites NOW by simply clicking on LIKE and then use the right arrow to move onto the next one in turn. You can vote for more than one.
Geoff says that he will run another competition on the theme of Peace in the new year by which time he hopes that the council will have bought into the “Warrington Pledge to Peace and Wellbeing” for 2022.
The Pledge to Peace and Wellbeing is something Geoff has been urging the council to sign up for since he was approached by the Oldham peace delegates on a visit to the Tim Parry Johnathon Ball Peace Foundation in 2016. It is a voluntary commitment and entails no obligation. Every signatory, however, declares their willingness to create programs and initiatives promoting the culture of peace, also in collaboration with other signatories, and to notify the Secretariat accordingly.
Geoff added, “During my Mayoral year I took part in over 550 engagements and activities that are annual fixtures in the Warrington community calendar. Many of them would be ideal candidates. Whilst I lit a candle for the Holocaust Memorial Day in the Town Hall, I also joined a husband-and-wife peace activists and their day at a local High School informing the pupils about Hiroshima and how to make paper Peace Cranes.
He added“The Mela for example is a great cultural mix and there are activities of charities that emerged out of the sad events of 2016 that have gone on to be an inspiration. I would cite the work of Nora Carlin and her CARE UK charity work for refugees, I lit up the Town Hall in green, white and purple for a lady in considerable pain for Fibromyalgia Awareness Day and the work that the River Reeves Foundation and the Tim Parry Johnathon Ball Peace Foundation do.”
Geoff envisages setting up a calendar of events as he did for his Mayoral duties on the council web page. If the council sign up for the Pledge to Peace and Wellbeing, then it will be used as evidence that the Town wishes to be a signatory. He would like to hear from any organisation staging events that would like to be a part of the pledge.
“I am currently searching for a suitable place to build a Peace Garden, not as grand as the one in Oldham or the Tranquillity Courtyard the volunteers of the Visually Impaired People developed in Museum Street. It will have a Peace Pole made in Aberdeen at its centre.”
“Following my Question at Full Council about “Will Warrington Pledge to Peace I was promised by the leader of the council, Cllr Russ Bowden, that he will meet Richard Outram (Oldham’s Peace Secretary) and myself and his portfolio holder to discuss what is involved. We have put forward some dates for this month and look forward to his reply.”
Pictures show teacher showing students work and Bex showing the Golden Gates – with hidden features like skittles, Fiddler’s Ferry and mountains?
To vote visit https://m.facebook.com/media/set?set=oa.594033975084367&type=3
1 Comment
Keep voting……