this is us
rise exhibition
A collaborative art exhibition created by our RISE project participants.
angel of transition
I painted this not long after a death of a family friend. She represents loss, change and transition. She’s a comfort, healer and most importantly my inner friend to help me through the loss of many aspects of my life.
copyright courtesy of the artist
love and pain
The greatest pain comes from within, self-sabotaging for many years but I’m slowly turning that around, because the greatest love is the one you give to yourself.
copyright courtesy of the artist
freedom of expression
Breaking free from the barriers that surround me, telling people to let me be me. It is my choice, my voice and my body.
copyright courtesy of the artist
flower power
When I come to the rise project I feel powerful in self-expression. I feel free, protected and I feel like a flower blossoming on a warm spring day.
copyright courtesy of the artist
Jo’s inspiration
Art therapy for me is a respite from a host of negative feelings - such as self doubt, self brutality, self blame, feeling inadequate, low self esteem and not knowing self value.
Also, art therapy (in the bridge particularly) is a space where I can be myself, perform my Islamic prayer, meet like minded friendly service users and lovely members of staff. In short art therapy caters for a host of various needs I have so Friday is the best possible end for any giving week I attend the rise project.
copyright courtesy of the artist
my sun, my moon
When the light and dark collide, showing two sides of the same coin. This can also relate to astronomy terms such as moon sign and sun sign when describing your zodiac.
copyright courtesy of the artist
tea party drama
We’re all mad here! Come join us for some tea and merry spirits (alice and wonderland inspired).
Because here at The Bridge it’s like a mad tea party with many flavours of tea and characters.
copyright courtesy of the artist
locked heart
When you keep your heart locked for survival, leaving feelings of distrust and loneliness. How do you move forward when you have layers of barbed wire and locks.
copyright courtesy of the artist
white feather
Peace, love and comfort surrounds you, though often unseen.
copyright courtesy of the artist
bollocks
Just say bollocks and get on with your day.
copyright courtesy of the artist
all RISE
RISE gals RISE together
copyright courtesy of the artist
like monet
Like Monet had a beautiful garden to grow flowers and to express his thoughts, me, as well I found a place like him but it is called RISE.
deep far away in me
Deep, deep, far away in me. Hope, fears, tears running in me. Mix of nice and terrible feelings but at last somewhere and some people to look at you, to listen to you.
Finding courage and consideration. All the kindness we need…
copyright courtesy of the artist
if I could
If I could, I will keep putting nice colours and nice vibes on my life like I did on this painting…
copyright courtesy of the artist
the love I have for you
As I woke up in the morning I was flowing with words I had my head that had to be written down quick before I forget.
The love I have for you is written for the love of my life we are truly soulmates.
copyright courtesy of the artist
going with the flow
RISE came into my life at the perfect time. I was very low and lost. I feel now it will all be ok, and I don’t need to be worried about change, change happens in life and life is for living.
copyright courtesy of the artist
I did it
RISE came into my life at the perfect time. I was very low and lost. I feel now it will all be ok, and I don’t need to be worried about change, change happens in life and life is for living.
copyright courtesy of the artist
making the most of what I do have
The things that I do have in life is the most important. The things that can’t be in my life is out of my hands until life decides when they return
copyright courtesy of the artist
crying in the wilderness
When I see this statue I feel very touched by it. I feel touched by the mother and father bringing their child together. I can feel their pain and desperation of what’s happened. I can feel their cries.
copyright courtesy of the artist
sky blue
The blue sky reflects on the blue sea. The sun going down reflects on the blue sea.
copyright courtesy of the artist
autumn leaves
Autumn colours and autumn shapes of falling autumn
copyright courtesy of the artist
poppy seeds
popping poppy’s.
copyright courtesy of the artist
layers of overthinking – making a pathway
copyright courtesy of Lindsey
through the keyhole
copyright courtesy of the artist
perspective
copyright courtesy of the artist
free your soul
copyright courtesy of the artist
experimenting with gouache
A beautiful evening sky, moon is glowing.
copyright courtesy of the artist
garden museum
Inspired by a visit to the garden museum in Lambeth Bridge.
Go visit the cabinets and see gardening history. I was delighted to see ‘little weed’ gnomes and flower pot men.
-I wasn’t that interested in gardening but I planted some seeds and it grew on me!
- What runs round a garden but doesn’t move? (a fence)
- What vegetable is always cold? (a chilli)
So, eat drink and be rosemary!
copyright courtesy of the artist
dancing
This piece of art was created when we were speed drawing to different music to evoke an emotion. I loved the energy of the song. This art shows a traditional floor and the randomness of coloured stepping stones, perhaps indicating personal choice. The headless flamboyant dancer casting all cares away. Being free to dance as and when we feel, anytime, anyplace, anywhere’ letting go of mind-sets we put on ourselves. The disco call looks like the sun, illuminating tones of red and oranges exuding passion and energy contrasted by blue.
copyright courtesy of the artist
courage, serenity and wisdom
Life enables and disables us at times, where we can lose a sense of self. From adversities we can find courage, serenity or wisdom.
This piece represents complexities, variety, light and dark. Creating this piece required energy and controlled manipulation to create flow. The use of powdered paint was new to me. Different colours evolved unexpectedly and like life bringing its own uniqueness of emotions.
@mzla.vie
copyright courtesy of the artist
time
This art currently represents the transient element/aspect of life. Life is sections of periods that passes us by in a blink of an eye.
My current outlook (on time) in life has changed since attending my art group. I notice that my art group has allowed me the time and place to observe and understand the world I exist in currently.
The image shows a very large candle and plants and even though the candle will burn out and plants will die over time, this is not a negative image, it’s a way to understand that life changes always and our perspective and time allows us to grow with change and reflect on our current environment.
In my past life I had never found time to be my friend and always felt stuck, loss, behind and frustrating. Once I started my art group, this gave me space and time to understand myself and help me on my current path to growth, change and acceptance
copyright courtesy of the artist
perspective
While attending my art group I created this piece of art to capture the perspective of movement for one’s self.
Self-love, self-growth, and healing is my current mind set and I have started to express this through my art. I tried to express the energy flow that happened around a person who is taking time and space to grow and express themselves.
I hope this shows the energy expressed around movement.
copyright courtesy of the artist
change
copyright courtesy of the artist
speed of darkness
Racing, rushing, always on the go. No time to stop or see things clearly. Constantly running until the end.
copyright courtesy of Zara
glimmer of hope
Obstacles of life testing me.
Afraid of using colours so bright
I am allowing myself to be free.
copyright courtesy of Zara
set me free
Set me free to be who I want. Enough of living another life. Crying out is not an option. The hurt and devastation I leave behind.
copyright courtesy of Zara
copyright courtesy of the artist
the last straw
The unseen figure is obliterated by the pink splash. Energetic chaos takes over the ink painting in the artists use of the stereotypical pink that is foisted on females at a very young age, forcing all of us into a choice of zero and growing up with a lot of expectations put upon me and most girls.
The figure loses itself in a blur but the energy in this states the inner feeling of the painter in an energetic display.
copyright courtesy of Wendy
my dad
This is a painting of my Dad when he was alive. I miss him.
copyright courtesy of the artist
the trees in the lake district where my mum and dad’s ashes are
copyright courtesy of the artist
we would love to hear what you think about the RISE ‘this is us’ exhibition.
Let us know how the premiere of our digital exhibition was for you by leaving your feedback in the box below. It may be about the exhibition as a whole, or something that you would like to say to a particular artist. All thoughts welcome.