Building positive relationships through art

Five young women from the north and north eastern suburbs of Adelaide have celebrated the value of positive relationships by exhibiting a collaborative artwork at the John Harvey Gallery in Salisbury.

The girls met through Graphic Cuisine, a group formed for young women who have had experienced anxiety. Over the course of 10 weeks they attended afternoon art and cooking sessions that were delivered and supported by their case managers.

The girls worked with a local professional artist, Carly Didcote, who provided them with the skills and techniques to create a range of art pieces - from painted canvases to paperweights.

During the cooking sessions, the girls researched recipes, and worked co-operatively to prepare the food. The girls then re-created each dish to serve at their final celebration.

These sessions also created an opportunity for Mission Australia to develop a partnership with the Northern Sound System youth centre, which provided access to their kitchen facilities.

“Mission Australia was approached by Salisbury Youth Council, who asked if we had a group of young people would like to participate in the 'Positive Relationships. Positive Mental Health’ art exhibition,” said Amanda Grzyb, Acting Team Leader for Mission Australia Learning Unlimited in Elizabeth.

“We felt the girls would be the ideal candidates as the topic was relevant to them and they had formed a positive working group. During the final celebration session of the program, the girls worked together on a 'positive relationship' canvas.

“This project has seen a number of the girls’ confidence grow and for a couple of them this is the first program they had engaged in for a long period of time. We are hopeful it will be a stepping stone into engaging in further learning opportunities.”

The Salisbury exhibition included presentations from various local youth programs. At the launch representatives from each group gave a presentation on their artwork, how the group came up with the idea and its meaning.

The Graphic Cuisine piece will remain on display in the gallery throughout November.

Above photo (from left): Kellie, Samone, Kelsey, Carly, Inge, Jess and Genelle. Absent: Paige.

To learn more about the views and challenges experienced by young Australians, read Mission Australia’s 2010 National Survey of Young Australians, which will be launched on Wednesday 17 November.