Aoife and Praxis artists putting ‘Life in Colour’

Those in Praxis Care Mullingar along with artist Aoife Wims are looking forward to the launch of their group exhibition from The Life in Colour Project. There will be an open evening for this exhibition on Thursday, September 26, (6pm) in the Atrium at the County Buildings, Mullingar.

Praxis Care Mullingar provides day service support, operating under the HSE New Directions Framework, for up to 12 individuals who face mental health challenges, intellectual disability and/or autism.

Megan McCormack is the manager of the centre on Church Avenue, Mullingar. Praxis Care believes in person-centred support and empowering lives that are valued, meaningful and inclusive, regardless of the complexity of need.

Aoife Wims is a recent graduate of the BA (Hons) Art course in IADT Dún Laoghaire. Since graduating, Aoife has been accumulating hours of work experience in order to apply for an MA in Art Therapy. She wanted to gain experience working with people in a caring capacity and within an organisational context. Praxis Care seemed like a perfect fit.

The Life in Colour Project involved the visual arts, eg drawing, painting, sculpture. With the support of the Westmeath County Council Arts Office Creative Ireland Community Grant, service users gained access to artist guidance and materials during these creative sessions, improving their wellbeing.

Art is a powerful medium for self-expression and communication. Through artistic endeavours service users even improved on social skills like sharing and being patient. The goal was that they would find it soothing and get a sense of achievement.

Those that attend Praxis Care participated in a variety of arts and crafts projects with Aoife. These include a display for Praxis Care’s 40th birthday party with painted board and decorated tree, a paint your mood with clay activity, tissue paper suncatchers, tie-dye coffee filters, taking a line for a walk, watercolour tape resist, sponge flower painting, chalk pastel drawings and seasonal crafts.

The exhibition will remain open to the public until Friday October.