AWARDS have been presented for the Warrington Bipolar UK support group Vincent Van Gogh Art Competition took place at the Blooming Art studio.
The competition was launched on the 30th March to commemorate Van Gogh’s birthday, 168 years ago and to raise funds for the BipolarUK Christmas Crowdfunding event launched a few days ago.
Commenting on the work of one of the award winners Former Mayor Geoff Settle, who organised the competition, said: “The public loved Julie Cunningham’s artwork. Her entry like the others embodied all that I was looking for. A painting to the theme of a “Starry Starry Night”. Julie’s painting was set in a sparse bedroom with a lonely, depressed figure with a rainbow of hope shinning, through the window. For someone who had only taken up painting less than a year ago at Blooming Art it was fantastic. Her picture tugs at the heartstrings.
Blooming Art is the brainchild of Gail Stubbings who describes the studio as “A place where minds can mend.” There are around eighty children who attend and a number who are in the adult group some of who are taught photography with the option of gaining a certificate. For some, this has enabled them to get a job or simply leave the world at the front door relax for an hour or so and practice the skills that they have been taught by Gail and another teacher Estelle.
Geoff describes the second fundraiser of its type that he has organised as a “blind competition” with an open public vote. Letters and numbers were assigned to each entry. This meant that no one knew who the entries were from.
He said “Each entry was photographed and uploaded into a media album on Facebook page “BipolarUK Van Gogh Art competition.”
“Voting was done using the LIKE button. There were fifty-six entries and over 460 votes cast. Every painting embodied all that I was hoping for. The over nineteens were brilliant, and the juniors were so cute. I hope that I can find a venue to display the work and continue to raise awareness of living life with Bipolar.”
“I was impressed by the creativity and the understanding of being Bipolar as well as the Vincent Van Gogh technique shown by all. The wonderful thing is that £120 was raised that will go in the Crowd Funding Christmas initiative to help fund Bipolar Support Groups across the country. I myself received a donation after delivering a lecture recently at Manchester University to Clinical Psychology students about living and coping with chronic illness. It took place in the building where Alan Turing worked on his computing.
Gail said: “We were honoured to have the new Chair of the Warrington Health Watch, Gary Skentelbery as our guest. He has been very supportive of my Art Studio and projects over the years, especially in the area of mental health that he feels passionately about.
Gary said: “I was delighted to hand out the wards. Gail has created a wonderful space where her students can paint under the tutorship of herself and Estelle. This is a shining example of a place where you can learn and be creative whilst also feeling safe and secure, producing wonderful pieces of art.”
Geoff added: “The Van Gogh competition is an event that I have categorised as “Peace of Mind” to support the ongoing work to facilitate “Warrington Pledge to Peace” (see my Facebook page in the same name.”
“I hope to develop other projects to place on next year’s calendar along with the many long-standing annual activities with a peace theme. The calendar can then be submitted for ratification in line with the Brussels Declaration of 2011 which has the intent to encourage projects and actions that are aimed at promoting peace in its most universal meaning, based on the significance of each individual person.
“I am keeping my fingers crossed that a Peace Pole can be planted in the crematorium near the four-season meadows, as suggestion made to me by a member of the senior WBC management team.
“Hopefully early next year I will create another competition with a different theme and painting style. Estelle has already asked if there can be a photography category.
“I can’t wait, having seen the entries for this one that includes one looking like expensive Christmas wrapping paper, Golden Gate skies under a Cat Stevens, Moonshadow, with swirls, and a sea sky surfing on solar winds. I awarded a special prize to Rebecca with her aura sky, Golden Gates and the hills on the other side of Manchester that can be seen from Warrington.
“Not forgetting the juniors, Max Settle whose entry like mine were only put in to test the process and keep him quiet on day whilst Nana got on with some things. It proved very popular along with Mary Poppins flying with her umbrella and a lovely smiling dog.
For more information about Bipolar go to their web site https://www.bipolaruk.org
Junior winner Max Setttle
1 Comment
Apologies for hom this was written. I’ve been working flat out on projects for two weeks, so very tired when I wrote the piece so I hope you can read between the lines. 🙄