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World AIDS Day exhibition at USC Gallery
Bright and colourful paintings produced by Sunshine Coast residents living with HIV/AIDS will be on display in a three-day exhibition at the University of the Sunshine Coast Gallery from Wednesday 29 November.
The exhibition, with the theme “Let’s talk about it – many faces, different stories”, will be open to the public from 10am to 4pm daily until World AIDS Day on Friday 1 December.
It features about 100 works, many of which were produced by people who attend art as therapy classes through Spiritus Care Services Positive Directions at Nambour, the Queensland Health funded treatment and care provider for people living with HIV/AIDS in the region.
A World AIDS Day ceremony will be held at the Gallery on Friday from 5-7pm, with light entertainment, speeches and the announcement of winners of a competition judged by Maroochy mayor Joe Natoli, Gallery director Dawn Oelrich and HIV/AIDS specialist Dr Kuong Taing.
Ms Oelrich said art as therapy was a recognised health technique that helped improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of people.
“It is based on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behaviour, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness and achieve insight,” she said.
“Some people believe art-making, and in this case painting, can transport a person to another dimension where outside influences become secondary.
“Artists’ brainwaves drop into a meditative state when they are painting and participants are encouraged to clear their minds, as if in meditation, and allow the paint to spontaneously flow.”
Ms Oelrich said many of the paintings in the exhibition were bright, colourful and uplifting.
“It’s a little bit different to see what can happen when people take a positive look at life when they have a real dire illness,’’ she said.