Taking Flight exhibition at City of Albany Library shows how art therapy can be ‘a positive Pandora’s box’

Art for art’s sake, they say, but the works now on show at Albany Public Library demonstrate that picking up a paintbrush can lead to much more than a simple, pretty picture.

The Taking Flight exhibition, which runs until June 30, is showcasing the works of Serena McLauchlan’s art therapy clients.

Her artists have a range of disabilities but have found resilience, confidence and engagement through McLauchlan’s classes, either weekly at the Historic Whaling Station or in private sessions.

Wendy Hanssen, mother of artist Colin, said the change in her son had been wonderful since he started painting.

“It has been huge, like opening a positive Pandora’s box,” she said.

“His physios and OT specialists have said there has been a definite improvement in his physical and mental capacity.

“He is loving it; his focus and drive is so much better.”

She said when Colin, who has ataxic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and is non-verbal, was six-months-old, a doctor said he would not live to see his first birthday.

He is now 31 and the family continue to “love everything we’ve got with Colin”.

“We gave him a choice recently as to whether he would like to go to bingo with his mates, stay home or see Serena for painting and he said painting before I’d finished the sentence,” Mrs Hanssen said.

“He may be non-verbal, but he is very communicative.”

One of Colin’s contributions to the exhibition is a painting of vibrant sunflowers and McLauchlan is delighted with his work, especially as he has limited use of just his right hand.

“Colin had never painted before but just the act of holding a brush and watching that brush tell a story with all that energy unfolding has had such an impact on him and his family,” she said.

The Taking Flight theme is aimed at showing the audience that engaging with painting builds resilience and self-esteem.

“It’s also a chance to display their work publicly and earn some recognition, which is lovely and a goal of the process,” McLauchlan said.

Other contributors include Hannah Collins who started with drawing and has moved on to dragons.

She is set to have her own solo show soon.

Rob Alexander’s abstract, dot and stipple paintings are equally eye-catching.

His works are sought after by Art Lease, the company which loans art to businesses in Albany.

McLauchlan is about to complete her masters in art therapy and is loving working with her clients.

“I used to sit at my grandma’s kitchen table and paint,” she said.

“I always felt grounded and nourished in that space and having a safe space like that is really powerful.

“The exhibition is the result of two years working with the artists in the show and it has been interesting and fulfilling to see the different takes and the different challenges of all my clients.

“Art therapy creates a safe space in which to explore feelings, needs, values and choices through the language of paint, clay or mixed media.

“Capacity, hope and resilience can be fostered through the use of materials which challenge and engage.”