Rethink Your Mind: Devon decorator's arty success
DEVON DECORATOR’S ARTY SUCCESS
IN POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
A TALENTED Tiverton man’s moving train station masterpiece has whooshed into top spot in a national competition to celebrate positive mental health.
Father of two Andy Gardiner’s colourful mixed media creation has been picked for the cover of Rubie Colt’s new urban fusion CD for awareness raising project Rethink Your Mind.
“I’m over the moon. I’ve never entered a competition before and very nearly didn’t enter the picture because I wasn’t entirely pleased with it,” says the keen photographer and artist.
“I felt a little self conscious in the train station with my camera on a tripod. But I’m glad I persevered.”
He used his Nikon 7000 on a very low shutter speed to capture the motion blur Exeter station scene of passengers and a shiny and reflective stationary train.
Then, inspired by artist David Hockney’s iPad wizardry, Andy used a downloaded Artrage programme to paint on top of his picture.
The resulting artwork was selected by a star-studded judging panel, including acclaimed artists Gary Hodges Steven McLoughlin and Sally Waterman and photographers Jenny Escritt and Keith Cooper.
As well as seeing his work enshrined in on the CD, Andy gets a new iPad and will join five other winners at the May 1 presentation at the House of Lords, hosted by project supporter Professor Lord Patel of Bradford OBE.
His picture will also feature on the www.rethinkyourmind.co.uk website and in a hardback book, aimed at providing a valuable mental health help guide that will link up support organisations with the people who need them most.
Nationwide organisations, mental health groups and NHS Trusts, including the Devon Partnership NHS Trust, are given a free platform in the project, launched by Midlands-based community interest company SISO (Safe Inside, Safe Outside) and Citizens’ Eye.
Rethink Your Mind is the brainchild of SISO Development Worker and Refuge lead singer Peter Hirst, who hopes the project will get people talking positively about mental health.
His band Refuge will also release a single featuring winning lyrics and artwork.
Andy, who also plays guitar and composes music, says the project may change his life. “I’m a self employed decorator, and winning this may be the boost I need to do more with my art and photography,” says Andy, 57, who has always loved art and did art and design, and photography, at college.
He also applauds Rethink Your Mind’s aim to get everyone talking about mental health. “I can’t believe the attitudes some people still have about mental health. It’s not as if it’s rare for people to have issues,” he says.
“Rethink Your Mind is all about celebrating creativity shattering the stigmas and reaching the thousands of people who may feel like they’re suffering alone,” adds Peter, who has Bipolar.
“It’s such an exciting project to be part of and I’m delighted Andy’s beautiful art will be on my CD,” says Rubie.
The hardback book, which includes 20 pages of SISO recovery material and a foreword by Professor Lord Patel of Bradford OBE, will be made available to all supporting NHS Trusts.
It will also include work from another Devon artist, Ceridwen Darby, who lives in Beaworthy.
Both the book and the Rubie Colt and Refuge CDs will be launched on July 1.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. For more information, please email lynne.powell@crucialpr.com">lynne.powell@crucialpr.com
2. The six winners are: Andy Gardiner , Tiverton, Devon (Rubie Colt CD cover artwork); David Holloway Bedford (B side Rubie Colt CD Poem and artwork in book); Saiqa Parveen, Halifax (B side Refuge CD Poem); Stephanie Rose, Bo‘ness, West Lothian, Scotland (A side Refuge CD Lyrics); Lucy Whitehouse, Worcs (Refuge CD cover artwork); Ella Zellaby, Rochester, Kent (A side Rubie Colt CD Lyrics).
4. There are 40 other poems and artworks selected for the hardback book. A full list can be found on the website www.rethinkyourmind.co.uk
5. The full list of judges is: Artist Gary Hodges: Poet and Performer Jean Binta Breeze; Photographer and Printmaker Jenny Escritt; Steven McLoughlin artist, Keith Cooper Photographer Poet and Performer Lydia Towsey; Poet and Performer Adam Horovitz; Artist Sally Waterman.
6. SISO empowers mental health service users to become valued, active members of their communities and works to reduce stigma associated with mental health. SISO promotes self-management, hope and optimism. For more information please log onto www.s-i-s-o.org.uk
7. For more information about Citizens’ Eye, please log onto www.citizenseye.org
