Kez Knight, working in conjunction with David Forbes visited local Lynbrook groups to collate meaningful art with an empowering message.
This artwork feeds into David Forbes’ Art Installation in the new Lynbrook Community Centre now open for business.
Kez visited Childcare Centres, Schools, Youth Groups, Indigenous Groups, Aged Care Facilities, Sporting clubs and other community groups in the City of Casey and Lynbrook to gather the creative voice of over 200 local community members to tell their story of living in Lynbrook.
Kez Knight had the pleasure of spending time and sharing stories through art with the residents of Embracia Aged Care
Many stories get locked away for people living with Dementia or Alzhiemers yet through the many creative processes coupled with her professional therapeutic relationship, Kez enables people to remember once again the richness of their lives and share their wisdom with family, friends and staff alike.
Challenging behaviours that some residents present with are diminished when they are able to channel their frustration and emotions into something creative. These processes provide them with some peace and mirror to them their abilities, despite what limitations they may have in other areas of their lives.
Wahroonga Aged Care Mt Waverley asked me to run a 6 week art therapy program with their residents to help ease their anxiety as the facility was relocating.
Many processes where enjoyed by the residents and staff noted the change in the residents who were calmer and happier as a result of the Art Therapy program.
Research supports the great benefits Art Therapy has for people living with Dementia. These benefits include the ability Art Therapy has to:
Manage Emotions
Provide Social Connections
Instil hope & control
Non-Medical Intervention
Meets emotional needs
Improved Physical & Mental Wellbeing
Vehicle for non verbal assessment
Provides opportunity for Life Review
Culturally appropriate as Art is universal
Looks beyond limitations to the strength & beauty of the individual through art
Proudly sponsored by City of Casey and City of Greater Dandenong, the NAIDOC Week Exhibition, now in it’s 3rd year and the Winter Arts Festival are a celebration of not only creativity but also leadership and teamwork produced by the Koorie Youth Group and facilitated by Kez Knight. With the theme of “My Story – Our Future”, the Koorie Youth Group has once again created some beautiful artwork with an empowering message. The artwork is on display at the June 2014 City of Casey Winter Arts Festival, held at Haileybury College, Berwick and the July 2014 NAIDOC week Exhibition, will be held at Heritage Hill, Dandenong from 28th June to 27th July 2014. The Koorie Youth Group members aged from 5 up have worked together on a series of large collages, wall hangings, individual paintings and skateboard decks incorporating Victorian Indigenous language to tell their story to become the exhibition’s theme “My Story” as told by the Youth who are tomorrows leaders to create “Our Future”. Below are some photos of the journey of the workshops and exhibitions
Proudly sponsored by Cardinia Shire Council and facilitated by Kez Knight, the very talented Koorie Youth Group members aged between 8 and 13 who attend the ‘Strong Koorie Youth’ (SKY ) Program, Pakenham have helped design and create this outstanding Mural now installed at the Henry Rd Community Centre, 145 Henry Rd, Pakenham.
Below is the Before shot of the 5 meter long Shed wall the Mural is now installed on and some work in progress shots of the impressive teamwork by these talented young people. Then further shots of the installation progress with help from my team Basil and Wilma the pugs and installation completion by Rick Knight Construction Solutions.
Starting to come together now….
and now for the installation ……
Henry Rd Community Centre Mural installation process with Kez and team members Basil and Wilma
She 2 Her Program – Mother & Daughter Program @ Dandenong West Primary, Victoria
This pilot program including Art Therapy sessions facilitated by Kez Knight has seen girls from the school attending with their Mums to spend quality time in a creative space. . The aim of the program is to provide opportunities for both students and their mother to have fun, freely express themselves and share stories about their life experiences, empowering them to communicate what is important to them and what they value about their relationship with each other. The program acknowledges and respects experiences of diversity relating to culture, life experiences and family relationships.
Growling Grass Frog Sculptures – pictured below at their home at the Henry Road Childrens Centre, Pakenham Victoria
These beautiful Growling Grass Frog Sculptures were designed and created by the Pakenham Koorie Youth Group (SKY Program). Below are photos of the Frogs from inception to completion. These frogs now take pride of place at the ‘Growling Grass Frog Nature Outdoor Play Space’ at the Henry Road Childrens Centre, Pakenham and compliment the large Mural installed in 2014 also designed and created through the SKY Program and facilitated by Kez Knight.
Column Art Project @ Monash Medical Centre, Clayton VIC. Facilitated by Kez Knight, the Dandenong Koorie Youth Group have designed and created all 24 canvas panels to fit the 3 meter tall structure to the entrance columns of the Monash Medical Centre, Clayton with a welcoming, health and wellbeing theme. Follow link to article in theLeader Newspaper 5th May 2014 Young siblings keep up good work
These beautifully decorated welcoming columns link up with the Monash Medical Centre Healing Garden Project set for completion in 2015 and supports its theme of adding beauty and meaning to public spaces to assist in the healing process. The Column Art Project now complete includes amazing paintings created by the talented Koorie Youth Group with ages ranging from 5 to 18 years.
Charisma Harrison – Wanganeen created this beautiful piece and shared that Butterflies represent Freedom for her.
Katie working on her ‘Sea Turtles’ which represents her Family’s Country from Northern Queensland and reminds her of family bondsPeter, a member of the Koorie Youth Group working on his fantastic piece of art for the Monash Medical Centre Column Art ProjectDaisy and Nyoka working together on their Goanna paintingBrodie Sinclair working on his exceptional piece for the Monash Medical Centre Column Art Project. Brodie shared that his painting is about Black and White people being equal under the one Sun.
And below are more fantastic individual pieces to make up the rich tapestry of art to grace the Monash Medical Centre’s Column Art Project.
Hampton Park Renewal Project – Medicine Wheel Sculpture Unveiling Ceremony. Kez Knight (left) with Counsellor Wayne Smith, Member of Parliament Judith Graley, Counsellor Damien Rosario, Aboriginal Elder Auntie Di Kerr and Michele Halsall
City of Casey, Hampton Park -Public Sculpture – Coral Drive Renewal Project, Hampton Park VIC. Facilitated by Kerryn Knight, the Dandenong Koorie Youth Group including Aiden Van Beek, Brodie Sinclair, Breanna Hosking, Jessica Hosking, Kristal Brighton and Skye Thomas have assisted in the design and creation of a beautiful and colourful mosaic ‘Medicine Wheel’ depicting Aboriginal Totem Animals and their meanings as paralleled by the Seasons of our life.
The Aboriginal totem animals of the Dingo, Snake, Goanna and ‘Bunjil’ the Eagle Creator Spirit of the Wurundjeri and Bunurong People of the Kulin nation have been depicted in colourful mosaics and framed by footprints of the Koorie Youth Group embedded around the outer rim. As you travel around the sculpture, your journey starts in the North with ‘Bunjil’ the Creator Spirit. ‘Bunjil’ looks ahead with a bird’s eye view of the journey that awaits you. With creativity and vision, you plan your path ahead. Next you make your way to the East with the Goanna. Footprints are bigger now. The path is not always easy and the Goanna learns stillness and dignity in the face of difficulty. Through courage, strength and endurance it succeeds and grows. So too, you learn, succeed and grow on your journey. Then you continue to the South where the Snake sheds it’s skin. You, like the Snake make changes in your life, letting go of things not needed to continue on your journey and make way for the new. Continuing on, you travel to the West where the Mother Dingo awaits you. She helps you embody the changes you have made on your journey making you a whole new person through your gained awareness and wisdom. And then you return home to your centre for healing and rest awhile in your new skin. You then look to the path again to lead you on your next journey, and so continues the Seasons of your life.
The sculpture comprising a 2 meter diameter disc and seat has now been installed in the Hampton Park Coral Drive Tree Reserve, next to house number 91 Coral Drive, Hampton Park. Below are some photos of the progress from inception to completion.
Kez Knight facilitated a school holiday program for young people in the City of Greater Dandenong. Participants of all abilities from various culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds had immense fun on the day to all creatively add as a team to this beautiful mural that proudly hangs in the Reception area of the Youth Stop centre, Clow Street, Dandenong. The title of this work is ‘Looking, Listening and Speaking through Diversity’ and visually represents the group effort of all the young people involved in its creation and reminds us all that the language of Art is universal.
The Mother of one young attendee living with Autism was ‘amazed to see my son so actively engaged with a group project and loving it’.
The Mural takes pride of place in the Reception area of ‘Y Stop’ Youth Services, Clow Street, Dandenong
