by Sue Todd
Earlier this month we gathered for our annual Art Journey – 15 women, 2 artists and countless volunteers came together for a creative and inspiring three days together. So much to share with you – where to begin?
First, three of the women who joined us came all the way from Williams Lake. Our dear friend Dina Kennedy, who journeyed with us to Thailand last year, was so moved and inspired that she went back home to her community and has opened up a Great Room there! One day a week she meets with women who are journeying through addiction and exploitation towards a more whole life, and we were so encouraged to spend time with her and two of her new friends.
With art as our theme, on Tuesday evening we went to tour the pottery studio of Liz DeBeers. She is a very gifted artist and a great storyteller, and there was no shortage of laughs that evening. We were so surprised when Liz brought out huge hunks of clay and taught us all how to make adorable clay elephants (a nod to her homeland of South Africa).
That got the creative juices flowing as we rolled, sculpted, shaped and painted our beautiful creatures. Even the self proclaimed “un-artsy” women were pretty proud of what they had made! Thanks Liz!
The next morning, our friend and artist Ron Stevens arrived with paints and canvasses and no shortage of jokes to get us going on our day of painting. With flowers as our inspiration, we all sat down to paint various interpretations – abstract, still, and garden scenes. It took concentration, courage and an extra dose of confidence to push through, but the work that was created was absolutely beautiful.
The next day, as we gathered for our final circle, we reflected on all that was accomplished, taking up the challenge and doing something that at one time might have seemed impossible. These three days weren’t just about art – they were about life lessons, about believing in yourself, discovering parts of yourself that had been long buried, and about the power of dreams.
Thank you to each of you, our community, for your practical and prayerful support. We couldn’t do this without it, and we are so grateful.
On Sunday August 12th from 12 – 5pm, please join us at Linwood House for the Annual Art Show where the work of these amazing women, plus other artists from the Sunshine Coast will be on display and for sale. Come and meet the women who took this month’s Art Journey, and be inspired not only by their art but also by their amazing stories of courage and hope!
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