AN ART exhibition showcased the talent of some of Chester’s homeless individuals.
The event which was held at the Chester Aid to the Homeless’s Harold Tomlins day centre.
The artwork included examples of ‘Action Painting’ – expressive pieces intended to creatively empty the mind of worries – and original representations of the ‘Ten Steps to Positive Mental Health’, which were highlighted on World Mental Health Day.
Group sessions had been held, in which the artists discussed how the ten steps could apply to their own lives. A project was then run allowing them to show their portrayal of the steps through art.
Day Centre education manager, John Buchanan, has run various other art projects in the past, including the creation of well-received postcards featuring paintings and poetry by homeless individuals.
He said: “Homelessness has a high rate of poor mental health, and at the centre we use art therapy to try and address the statistic.”
He hopes that such activities will challenge the common perception of homeless day centres. He said: “This centre is more than just a soup kitchen; it is a hive of culture and education.”
