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‘CELEBRATING BRIGHT LIVES’

A unique pilot project which has brought community art together with families who have experienced childhood cancer will culminate in a ceremony this Sunday 29th April 2001.

The ceremony, to take place at Hooka Park, Berkeley at 9.30am will showcase the art of six families who have worked together with a community artist to create some highly original pieces of work.

Community artist Deirdre Arthur Armstrong explained, “The ‘Bright Lives’ project is about helping people in the community understand the impact cancer has on the families that have had a young family member diagnosed with it. More importantly, ‘Bright Lives’ is also about celebrating that young person’s life and using art as a way to express their feelings about it”.

This Sunday’s celebration will include the six families launching their innovative boats and flying their amazing kites. Also on display will be the photographic records and stories written by the participants. A light breakfast will be served.

“The artworks needed to be fun for the children and their families and something that they all felt they could contribute to. Each family has also photographically recorded their creative processes in making boats, kites and lanterns” Ms Arthur Armstrong explained.

On display at the celebration will be photographic and written diaries kept by the participants, some amazing kites and paper boats which will be launched on the lake. A light breakfast will be served.

“Working with these families has been a humbling experience. These families face so much together and through this project we have tried to provide a different avenue for them to express their feelings about their experience with cancer” Ms Arthur Armstrong said.

From this project a strong desire has emerged for the Northern Illawarra to have its own ‘healing place’. Meetings have taken place with the Illawarra Lake Authority and other key stakeholders to develop ideas about the creation of a place where people can go to reflect, contemplate and heal. Hooka Park has been identified as a possible location with its beautiful outlook across the Lake and mass of bird life.

The pilot project has been a joint initiative of Healthy Cities Illawarra, Wollongong City Council-Cultural Services, Illawarra Area Health Service-Community Health and Camp Quality.

A photo opportunity can be arranged by contacting Deirdre Arthur Armstrong.