POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH:  Improving one’s sense of wellbeing using art, creative writing, photography and blogging – my journey written by ©Karen Robinson.  Please click here for my latest blog news!

Please find below a slide show of the abstract paintings I exhibited during 2011.  The first exhibition was “Linden Postcard Show“, the second “Casino Royale Team Fomo – Relay for Life Cancer Fundraiser” and the third “Picture This”.  For further details about the exhibitions and painting stories, please find below.

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EXHIBITION 1 of 3:  “Linden Postcard Show” 2011

February 5 to March 26 -2011, I participated in an exhibition called “Linden Postcard Show”.  It was located at Linden Centre for Contemporary Arts, 26 Acland Street, St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria – Australia.  “It is a unique not for profit contemporary art gallery located in the heart of St Kilda on vibrant Acland Street.  Housed in a significant historical building” (Linden. 2014).  Linden Centre for Contemporary Arts. (2014). About Linden. Retrieved from http://www.lindenarts.org/about-linden.aspx

 

I chose to exhibit the following three paintings:

Painting No. 39 – Title “Kelly’s Soul” Feb 2010
Acrylic on Canvas
30cms Length x 30cms Wide x 3cms Deep
Painting Story: This painting was inspired by the love of a mother/wife (me) of my husband and grown up children. A portrait of their wonderful souls and how they have enriched my life. How I treasure them…This one of three paintings is Kelly’s Soul.
Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson
NB: All images are protected by copyright laws!

 

Painting No. 40 – Title “Mark’s Soul” Feb 2010
Acrylic on Canvas
30cms Length x 30cms Wide x 3cms Deep
Painting Story: This painting was inspired by the love of a mother/wife (me) of my husband and grown up children. A portrait of their wonderful souls and how they have enriched my life. How I treasure them… This one of three paintings is Mark’s Soul.
Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson
NB: All images are protected by copyright laws!

 

Painting No. 41 – Title “Ben’s Soul” Feb 2010
Acrylic on Canvas
30cms Length x 30cms Wide x 3cms Deep
Painting Story: This painting was inspired by the love of a mother/wife (me) of my husband and grown up children. A portrait of their wonderful souls and how they have enriched my life. How I treasure them… This one of three paintings is Ben’s Soul.
Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson

 

EXHIBITION 2 of 3:  “Casino Royale Team Fomo – Relay for Life Cancer Fundraiser” 2011

April 1 -2011, I donated an abstract painting to help raise funds for “Casino Royale Team Fomo – Relay for Life Cancer Fundraiser” – Cancer Council Victoria. It was located at Riva, 42 Marine Parade, Elwood, Melbourne, Victoria – Australia.  The fundraiser was to help with “cancer research and cures” (Social Melbourne.).  Social Melbourne. (n.d.). Casino Royal – Team Fomo. Retrieved from http://www.socialmelbourne.com.au/index.php?option=com_events&task=view_detail&agid=259&year=2011&month=04&day=01&Itemid=52

My sister in-law asked me if I could donate a paint and I decided to do a painting especially for the fundraiser as both my parents had died of cancer. The following is the abstract painting along with its painting story.

Painting No. 53 – Title “In Memory of Parents Lost to Cancer” March 2011
Acrylic on Canvas
81cms Length x 71cms Wide x 3cms Deep
Painting Story: My father at the age of 53 died of throat cancer and my mother at the age of 64 died of melanoma cancer. Today on TV, I just heard the amazing news, that there is now hope for melanoma cancer suffers and this is truly great. An amazing advancement in cancer research and development. This has been the inspiration of my painting. The deep pink represents my mother as she was a loving and hard-working woman whom tried so hard to bring up three children. The black represents my father whom unfortunately lived most of his adult life an alcoholic. The circles represent the four children of my parents. The yellow circle is their first child who died within her first year of life. The blue circle is my younger brother, the purple circle is my younger sister and the red circle is me, the oldest child of our family. In memory of my parents, I paint this painting to help raise funds for Cancer Research & Development – Relay for Life Cancer Fundraiser – Casino Royale 2011. Hoping that one day, all cancers will be curable.
Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson
NB: All images are protected by copyright laws!

 

EXHIBITION 3 of 3:  “Picture This” 2011

July 29 – Sept 4  2011, I participated in Transport Accident Commission (TAC) exhibition called “Picture This” along with other artists whom had some how been affected by road trauma.  It was located at Geelong Gallery – Victoria, Australia.  “Picture This provides people who have been affected by road trauma to use artistic expression, whether it is drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, photography or textiles, to share their experiences.  The exhibitions showcase artwork by people who have either taken up art since being involved in a transport accident, or who were artists before their accident” (TAC. 2014). Transport Accident Commission. (2014). Claims and Support. Client Art Exhibition. Picture This 2013. Retrieved from http://www.tac.vic.gov.au/claims/client-zone/client-art-exhibition

Please click on this link below to watch TAC’s “Picture This” Exhibition 2011 opening night at Geelong Gallery:  https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1822797461369

The two paintings exhibited were part of a series about my family’s road trauma story – the death and loss of our son Ben.  Following are images of the abstract paintings 45D Title “Rest in Peace Ben” and 45E Title “Reaching out to Sons” and their painting stories.

Painting No. 45D – Title “Rest in Peace Ben” Jan/June 2011
Acrylic on Canvas
91cms Length x 91cms Wide x 3cms Deep
Painting Story: It was not until earlier in 2010, that we were able to place Ben’s ashes and plaque at Fawkner Memorial Park (Victoria, Australia). At the time, the roses were not in bloom, the grounds were dry and colourless and the day was cloudy and grey. It was a very sad, solemn day for us as parents and for Ben’s sister and her partner, now husband.
Later that same year, we returned on the 5th November 2010, the first anniversary of Ben’s death. On this day of sad memories of Ben and our hearts full of grief, we found ourselves visiting a strangely beautiful place. The sky was bright blue; the colourful roses were in full bloom! The old elms trees were still partially bare but just starting to bud again. And all the shrubbery and grass was green again after the winter rains. We placed fresh flowers, in the small vase, set on Ben’s plaque and sat on the small seat overlooking the beautiful garden. We were one year on… It made it no easier to bare, the loss of our son, but we gained a small comfort, that he was at peace in a beautiful place, that we had done everything possible to pay respect to his memory. Ben will be in our hearts and minds forever…
In this painting, I have tried to capture this spirit of our day, Ben’s first anniversary. I needed to remember Ben, at peace in a beautiful place…for my sake…as his mum…I couldn’t paint another painting full of pain. I wanted to be able to look at this painting and think of the beautiful day, we spent remembering him, remembering our son and the 25 years that Ben was in our lives…
Ben was killed in a single vehicle crash, just outside of Bendigo (Victoria, Australia) on the 5th November, 2009, at the age of 25 – In memory of Ben…
Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson
NB: All images are protected by copyright laws!

Painting No. 45E – Title “Reaching out to Sons” Jan/June 2011
Acrylic on Canvas                                                                                                           91cms Length x 91cms Wide x 3cms Deep
Painting Story: It was in January 2011, I found out about Road Trauma Support Services “Guest Speaker Volunteering” opportunities. Since then, I have been telling “My Family’s Road Trauma Story” (the loss of Ben, my son, killed in a single vehicle crash 5th November 2009) at Road Trauma Awareness Seminars. At these seminars there are approximately 15 young drivers (mostly young men) whom have been sent to the Road Trauma Awareness Seminars (RTAS) by the Magistrates Courts or by solicitors, pre-court attendance. The RTAS is run, by a Road Trauma Support Services Victoria (RTSSV) Educator, over a 2 1/2 hour period, in which time a guest speaker from SES’s (State Emergency Services) will present a story and then a guest speaker (such as myself) will present a personal road trauma story. At the beginning of the Road Trauma Awareness Seminar, the young men are full of bravado, confident and bullet proof! They really do not want to be there, but in order for them to be able to get back or maintain their driver’s licence, or meet with the Magistrates requirements, or even try to avoid a jail sentence, they have to be seen to participate. During the 2 1/2 hours, we see how these young “high at risk” drivers (some repeat road traffic offenders – just like my our son) attitude shifts. After they hear a personal road trauma story and realize that they are just like Ben as a driver! Leaves them with plenty to think about, how they can change their driver behaviour, so they don’t end up like my son Ben…his family’s road trauma story…
This painting has been inspired by these “Road Trauma Awareness Seminars” and the young men and women whom attend them. There are 15 black circles, each being a young driver and within the circle of colours, is one other, which is my son Ben. The black circles (young drivers) sit around a set of tables, all looking towards the presenters. The SES presenter is in the high left hand side of this painting, with the RTSSV Educator, down at the front next to SES presenter. And there is me, Ben’s mum, telling my family’s road trauma story. I painted myself in grey, because it is very hard to tell my story, each and every time. I have my arms in pearl white and reaching out to these sons, sons just like my son Ben. The circle of colour placed up on the top right corner of the painting, is part of my presentation and is the ripple effect of Ben’s death. Ben being the centre with the ripples coming out, like when you drop a pebble into a pond and the water ripples out! Within this ripple effect are Ben’s dad, mum (me), his sister and her partner (now husband), his girlfriend, grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins, best of mates, his work mates, previous work mates, old school friends and people I have come to understand have also been affected by road trauma; the Fosterville Gold Mine work-mate whom found Ben dead at the scene of the crash; the Victorian police officer who came to our door in Melbourne (Australia) and told us Ben had been killed, the Victorian (Australia) police officers who attended Ben’s crash, the SES people who removed Ben out of his car, the ambulance driver who took Ben to the Coroners, the Coroner and many more within our communities.
The colours, in the painting are about how these young drivers (mainly young men – just like my son) come into the room full of life and hope. We share a solemn message about the outcomes of road trauma – death, serious injury and possible jail sentences. But the team of “Road Trauma Awareness” are reaching out, to try to get these young drivers, repeat road traffic offenders to change their driver behaviour, in the hope that they don’t end up like Ben – my son…
I tell my family’s “Road Trauma Story” in the hope that these young men and women, young drivers live a long, happy and safe life with their family and friends…
Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson
NB: All images are protected by copyright laws!

TAC placed on their website, a series of client stories.  Please find here, a link to my family’s road trauma story depicted in a series of abstract paintings, I painted during 2010, 2011 and 2012.  Link:  http://www.tac.vic.gov.au/claims/client-zone/client-stories/stories/robinson-family  

Footnote:

The process of painting, painting story writing and digital photo painting has offered me a way of expressing thoughts and emotions which can be difficult to say out loud.  I also came to understanding that art can be a very powerful way of communicating with others.  Therapy via art – gave me a voice…

My art therapy journey has been an important part of recent years and still will be an important part in years to come.  I am hoping that by sharing my art therapy journey, will inspire others, to take up art therapy to find their voice – in order to be able to move forward in most difficult of times.  Art Therapy has brought me now to a much better place where I find myself being able to seek joy in each day.  As an ongoing process, I will be blogging about my art therapy journey “moving forward” and expand on how others have used/are using art therapy to assist physical and emotional well-being.  I hope you will join me!

 

© Karen Robinson – April 2014

POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH:  Improving one’s sense of wellbeing using art, creative writing, photography and blogging – my journey written by ©Karen Robinson.  Please click here for my latest blog news!