Valley residents have more opportunities to engage in the Planting Seeds for Mental Health art project. Partnering organizations Ottawa Valley Creative Arts Open Studio (OV-CAOS), Rainbow Valley Community Health Centre (Rainbow Valley CHC) and Community Resource Centre (Killaloe) (CRC) will host free community art workshops at 12 North St. Community Centre, Killaloe from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday March 30 and Saturday April 27. The events are designed to encourage conversations about mental health in the community.
The Current attended the first Planting Seeds workshop on March 2 along with community members of all ages. There were three elements on offer: Words, Art-making, Planting. Participants could choose to do any or all or none of these. They were also invited to have a drink and a snack and just chat.
Artist facilitator Tanya Lyons encouraged attendees to help create a magical world– either their own personal imagery or they could use a template for making birds, butterflies, leaves. The multi-media creations will be displayed in an enchanted forest/healing space set up in five Killaloe locations: the Post Office, CRC, Garth’s Kitchen, Killaloe Public Library, Rainbow Valley CHC.
Art piece showing mental health is the hidden “elephant in the room” (left); Tanya Lyons works with young participants
Rainbow Valley CHC mental health liaison Linda Archibald pointed to the potting table set up beside a window and said gardening is good for mental health. She told The Current how the Planting Seeds project came about: “It happens when you have a good community and you talk to each other.”
Potting table symbolizes planting seeds for mental health (left); Trisha Stott displays art piece
One community member, Cathy Lyons, described the experience:
When you enter, you are greeted with enthusiasm and kindness, and introduced to a number of smaller spaces where you can reflect, journal, or make art – the intention and hope is to have you reflect on what mental health means to you. You can “do” as much as you want, all with the support of very talented and creative people. Or, you can just “be” in the space, sip tea, have a sweet, plant a seed, and just revel at the artistic talent of others.
Trisha Stott, teacher at Killaloe Public School (KPS), brought children, some of them KPS students. This term KPS students selected a “Sparktivity” to help build their capacity for citizenship. Stott is guiding Gr. 5 – 8 students in Arts & Crafts with three artists to learn how to weave, make glass beads and include seeds in paper-making. As a result of outreach from OV-CAOS co-artistic director Anya Gansterer, Stott’s students aim to bring voice to youth mental health.
Gansterer and OV-CAOS co-chair Amy Rou offered attendees a comprehensive list of resources in the region that support mental health needs.
Cathy Lyons urged community members to attend the Planting Seeds workshops. She said,
Please take the time to make your voice heard by being part of this project. And, if you really don’t want to say anything out loud, come and be in this very special safe place – your presence alone, is valuable.