The St Bernards Primary School Family Board Project involved 170 + School Families engaging in an Art Project that was both meaningful and beautiful.
Each of the School families attended sessions held over several days where Kez Knight facilitated the process and guided them to create a Family Story Board. Each board was stenciled with the School logo to represent the School family and then each family added a vsiual representation of their family on the board. Once all the beautiful boards were completed, they were hung in the School Hall. At the end of 2016, all the Year 6 students were handed back their story board in the special leaving ceremony where they could take their school family with them as a memento of the years they have spent at St Bernanrds.
The Create + Connect Caravan Art Project has seen young local people designing and creating art for the Frankston Council Caravan. Once completed, the Caravan will be vinyl-wraped with the artwork showcasing the great many places of interest, parks, water-ways, reserves, shopping centres, sculptures and artwork that the City of Frankston has on offer. After all Frankston is more than just the beach !
Join Kez Knight at Kindred Art Space every Monday for a friendly and supportive walk along Frankston’s foreshore and return to Kindred Art Space for a tea or coffee.
Your gold coin donation will be given to Cancer Council of Victoria to support their vital research.
Back by popular demand at the Dandenong Youth Refuge !
… The young people who stay at the refuge and the staff have requested Kez Knight to facilitate another Mural for their outdoor courtyard wall.
Kez firstly facilitated the design meeting with the young people where they were able to creatively record their own unique ‘voice’ on the wall for all to see, present and future visitors. Then over the following 8 weeks Kez facilitated the art making process with the staff and young people.
This Mural like the previous one created by other residents of the refuge in 2015 is about ‘The Hero’s Journey’.
Mural rich in symbolism
The images of the monkeys depict a new life being born in 2016 – the Chinese Year of the Monkey and is surrounded by the loving energy springing from the large tree with it’s magical blooming flower. Yet swinging in the tree is a demon just like those we have to deal with in our daily life, hiding in the shadows. However when we focus on and have gratitude for the good things such as the blooming flower, the demons fade into the background as represented in the Mural.
The snow tiger depicts a totem animal of strength. The family unit is represented by the penguins and the penguin guarding its chick honours family members who have passed away. Faithfulness is represented by the dog in the foreground.
The series of trees on the right side of the bridge represent the growth of a forest and fruitfulness stemming from once charred remains. The strong hands holding the EYA nest are nurturing despite their tough appearance symbolising the importance of not ‘to judge a book by it’s cover’. The hands that hold the sun reflect the quote ‘As Above, So Below” symbolising the importance of having positive thoughts above to create a positive reality below. This is supported further by the words of Friendship, Strength, Growth, Courage, Love and Mind over Power.
Finally the participants wanted this Mural to be interactive and so have included 2 central hand prints with the words ‘INSERT HERE’ inviting the viewer to step inside this Magical Mural rich with symbolism and meaning of the Hero’s Journey.
There is also a poem that I believe represents the above:
“There is a brokenness out of which comes the unbroken. There is a shatteredness out of which blooms the unshatterable. There is a sorrow beyond all grief, which leads to joy. And a fragility out of whose depths emerges strength. There is a hollow space too vast for words through which we pass with each loss, out of whose darkness we are sanctioned into being.
There is a cry deeper than sound, whose serrated edge cuts through to a place that is unbreakable and whole.”
These guys (with the help of pugs Baz & Wilma ) appeared at the Frankston Youth Summit held at Elizabeth Murdoch College Friday 15th April where 1000 young people added their colourful representation of what it means for them to Stand Up against bullying in our Community. It was a great day had by all, the school Gym was buzzing and I was inspired by the creative and colourful additions made by the talented and wise young people to this interactive Art Installation prepared & facilitated by yours truly.
Sandplay Therapy invites your subconscious mind to choose and arrange symbols in a specially designed sand tray that depicts your inner landscape.
This simple yet profound and powerful process bypasses your analytical and thinking mind and cuts straight to the core of an issue. It is a deep process which reveals what underlies the current situation. Once this issue is portrayed in the sand, outside of you, you can gain a different perspective, empowering you for positive change.
There is always a solution to be found and Sandplay provides the platform.
Looking for a Unique Program for your Team? Tired of regular team building activities with no lasting results?
Coming from a Corporate background, Kerryn Knight understands the needs of Organisations and your staff. With Empowered Art Therapy Team Building Programs designed specifically for your Workplace, Kerryn facilitates programs to bring out the best with your Group at your nominated site.
Kerryn Knight has successfully run Empowered Art Team Building for Executives, Engineers, Allied Health Professionals, Teachers, Council Workers and more.
With a unique set of creative processes that stimulate the right brain hemisphere, Kerryn works with you and your staff demonstrating techniques and take-away tools for Strategic Planning, Intuitive Leadership and Creative problem solving.
‘Art Attack’ School Holiday Program with Kez Knight of Empowered Art Therapy and Greater Dandenong Youth Services. Fun times with some very creative young people !
Empowered Art Therapy has opened a new Studio & Gallery !
After many years of searching for just the right Place and Space, Kez has opened a Creative Arts Centre in Frankston.
This Quirky & Creative space is an old converted Warehouse right near the freeway, train station & Bus stop for your convenience.
Kindred Art Space is a nurturing creative hub where you can enjoy many personal development workshops, courses and sessions for your journey to Wellness through the Healing Arts.
Kez is also excited to set up a Gallery that is:
“For the People, By the People” !
At the ‘Peoples Gallery’ at Kindred Art Space, there is no ‘high-brow’ gallery staff, just great affordable Original Wall Art, Sculpture and up-cycled items for you to purchase. Visit for a chat and free coffee/tea with Kez.
This Gallery supports emerging artists and we encourage the creative spirit in all of you to exhibit your pieces here. Email for details
Kez has had the privilege of working with some very wise and hopeful young people staying at a Youth Refuge in Melbourne’s South East.
Throughout the 8 week Art Therapy workshop Kez has worked alongside the young people from very diverse backgrounds and situations to create a large Mural that is now fixed to an external courtyard wall at the refuge. This Mural, rich in bright colours and symbolism as designed by the young people tells their story of courage, of strength against adversity, of forgiveness and love. The young people have been happy to have the opportunity to leave their legacy, to have a voice and tell their story and acts to inspire others that will stay in the future.
A little bit about the story told in the Mural…
Once upon a time a birdman called Bruck was conceived and born. He started his journey under the Indigenous Australian Sun and then moved through many life lessons as told through the words recorded on the bricks. Then the journey got tougher and he felt the lightning beating down on him from the dark clouds above. Despite this he had gained wisdom from his travels so far so he stood tall in the face of adversity and looked to the Sun and the blue bird of happiness for hope and inspiration and he moved forward. When he found the EYA Refuge, he felt welcome to enter as he could relate to the words that graced it’s golden door “Life isn’t about falling, its about getting back up every time you fall”
In 2016 EYA requested Kez to workshop another Mural with the Residents – READ MORE HERE
