Drawing out essential skills for people with brain injury

ART HAS an important role to play in nurturing the development of a range of skills that are essential for people with a brain injury, visitors to an exhibition in Dublin heard last week.

The Colours of My Worldexhibit, which took place in the Dublin City Council buildings on Wood Quay, showcased work from artists who have head injuries and who attend day care services provided by the charity Headway, the national association for acquired brain injury.

The exhibition came about after Headway teamed up with Dublin’s Halston Street Parish Centre Art Group in an effort to raise funds and to shed light on the importance of community-based services at a time when they are under threat due to cutbacks.

Deana Conaty, manager of rehabilitation services at Headway, said the title of the exhibition was chosen to reflect the artists’ attempts to show their world to others.

“The focus of this exhibition was to highlight art as a means of communication, and how the individual artists express their feelings, emotions and life experience through their art. The artwork developed for this exhibition represent not only an end product but a journey that each artist has embarked on,” said Ms Conaty.

It is estimated that 30,000 people in Ireland have an ongoing disability due to acquired brain injury, following on from a stroke, haemorrhage or road traffic incident. People with acquired brain injury can experience a number of physical and sensory problems including hearing loss, seizures, lack of coordination and mental processing difficulties.

Ms Conaty said there was a wide range of benefits associated with art.

“All creative activities help lower stress levels, decrease depression, increase confidence and concentration, and promote positive feelings. Art in particular provides the opportunity for the development of hand-eye co-ordination, motor skills, sensory discrimination and problem-solving skills,” she added.

Talking to The Irish Timesvia his helper, Caroline Earley, artist Willie Pappin said that painting exhilarated him and that it was exciting to see his artwork displayed in public.

"I feel so proud that I produced so many pictures for the exhibition. Colours of My Worldwas a great theme as it let people see the world my way."