ARTIST PROFILE - DAWN TOMLIN

BLOSSOMING IS POSSIBLE

Centrepieces' Assistant Co-ordinator, Dawn Tomlin, relates how the charity has given her the confidence to rebuild her life.

'Forget Me Not' by Dawn Tomlin

I have been with Centrepieces since the end of May 2014 thanks to my counsellor, who suggested that I contacted the Co-ordinator to see if I could volunteer for the project as an art tutor. I was present for the last three weeks of the charity being based at the Crayford Centre, and joined in with the packing up and move of Centrepieces to the Lodge at Hall Place. Those last three weeks meant that I got to see everyone pull together as a team which was a great encouragement for me, due to a life-long distrust of people.

Sculptures by Dawn Tomlin

I have suffered since secondary school with depression and extreme social anxiety which developed further into full blown panic attacks. Bullying was emotional, verbal and physical. It was this bullying that caused me to follow a dysfunctional adult life where I kept myself isolated from people, even work colleagues, as I did not trust anyone. This was not only a very lonely life, but I became emotionally stunted, due to the fact that not having friends meant that I had been unable to communicate and mix with other adults in any type of situation. This lack of social skills also meant that I would run from any form of negativity or confrontation, no matter how tiny or insignificant it actually was, which led to me walking out from every job I ever held.

'Distress' by Dawn Tomlin

Once I had begun on my new journey with the volunteers and the artists of Centrepieces I soon began to realise that I had lots to offer people, not only as an artist and as a volunteer tutor, but as myself. With all of my insecurities, phobias and distorted ways of thinking, I was still accepted and valued by everyone. This acceptance was to act as a starting point for me: I began to see myself in a different light and this enabled me to begin to grow into my adult shoes.

I now help run the Lodge and as Assistant Co-ordinator I find myself dealing with people both internally and externally. My protective barrier has been lowered, my understanding and participation in work-related and friendship relationships is fully functional and I have found that, thanks to the encouragement and support of all at Centrepieces, not only have I blossomed as a person but I am a strong person.

This change has also influenced my work as an artist. I am able to open up and show my deepest fears and emotional traumas by producing thought-provoking conceptual art. This form of communication not only helps me to heal, but just as importantly, it acts as a message to a wider audience. By sharing my deepest fears, crippling emotions, thoughts and worries, I allow people to glimpse what it is like to suffer with a mental illness. I am now able to reach outwards towards people with confidence rather than hide in a corner, alone.

Blossoming is possible.

EXHIBITION REPORT - BEXLEY

BEXLEYHEATH CENTRAL LIBRARY EXHIBITION

Monday 28 September - Friday 23 October 2015

An example of the selection at Bexleyheath Library.

Our members who are exhibiting have overcome severe mental health difficulties, largely by being empowered through art. Tony Bennett, ‘a functioning alcoholic and drug addict’, credits Centrepieces with bringing ‘art back into my life’, to the extent that ‘the concentration and enjoyment I get helps keep out all the rubbish that’s in my head’. Georgina Bowen says her depression has been alleviated by her painting, revealing that ‘it has been very therapeutic for me, and very beneficial for my health and wellbeing’, while Barbara Anne French’s art ‘fills up my time and via my paintings I am transported into another world. A happier one’. Joan Sher comments that ‘in times of stress and worry I find it quite uplifting splashing around with very bright colours’, while Trevor Whiting sums up the whole ethos of Centrepieces by observing, ‘working alongside such a diverse and friendly group of artists… is helping me become more confident in both my own ability as an artist and my self-esteem.’

We are partly using the Bexleyheath exhibition to help publicise World Mental Health Day, which takes place on Saturday 10 October. This year, the World Health Organisation are raising awareness of what can be done to ensure that people with mental health conditions can continue to live with dignity, specifically through human rights orientated policy and law; training of health professionals; respect for informed consent to treatment; inclusion in decision-making processes and public information campaigns.

More of the art on display.

Centrepieces believes that effectively supporting people experiencing mental health problems is becoming one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. Stigmatising and discriminatory treatment can be particularly distressing when a person is experiencing a mental health crisis. By failing to treat people with mental health problems with dignity, we make it more difficult to ensure that everyone takes steps to safeguard their wellbeing and to seek help, as it can lead to self-stigma, low confidence, low self-esteem, withdrawal and social isolation.

Please support the Centrepieces exhibition in Bexleyheath library, as it’s a prime example of what people can achieve in an atmosphere of sympathy, encouragement and support.

List of Paintings and Artists

1.      Arrangement in blue No.18  Richard Jones

2.      Baby in the bulrushes  Martin Robinson

3.      Candle in the Wind  Martin Robinson

4.      The Milk Maid (after Vermeer) Georgina Bowen

5.      Cork Head  Tony Bennett

6.      Ever Watchful  Tony Bennett

7.      The 4 Cottages  Barbara French

8.      Togetherness  Barbara French

9.      Autumn Lake and Three Cows  Barbara French

10.  Clocks Barbara Cotter

11.  Being Set Up By Them (Part 1) Barbara Cotter

12.  Portal to Psychosis  Barbara Cotter

13.  God is Angry and She’s Black  Christie Cassisa

14.  Twilight  Christie Cassisa

15.  Mythical Monster  Steve Jones

16.  Metamorphosis  Peter Walmsley

17.  Liam Gallagher  Trevor Whiting

18.  Dog 1  Trevor Whiting

19.  Rainforest  Dawn Tomkins

20.  Coral  Dawn Tomkins

21.  Poem Concrete Mandala  Ann Cronin

22.  Lost Fennec Fox  Joan Scher

23.  The Lion and the Unicorn  Joan Scher

24.  Rhino  Joan Scher

25.  Julie  Libby Harris & Dave Salonia

26.  Priceless Jordan  Dawn Tomlin

27.  Caught   Dawn Tomlin

28.  Dinner Time  Dawn Tomlin

29.  Chain  Neil Butler

30.  Dungeness Boat  Neil Butler

31.  Clouds  Neil Butler

32.  I Like to Wobble  Alex Spendley

33.  Moss Side  Alex Spendley

34.  Wet Hare  Alex Spendley                  

If you go to the exhibition and are interested in purchasing any of the above, please contact us at Centrepieces.  

Robert Fairclough

Images copyright: Dawn Tomlin

ARTIST PROFILE: JOHN EXELL

CENTREPIECES AND I

John Exell, one of Centrepieces' longest serving members, describes what the charity has meant to him.

'Buddy-Buddy' by John Exell

I have been with Centrepieces since its creation at the Crayford Mental Health Day Centre.  Most of my life I have been interested in art.  I have been ill with severe mental illness since the age of 19, I am now 66 (2015).  I started to go to the Day Centre when I was unemployed and looking for work, during the recession of the early nineties.  After 5 years of this, and the lack of money, my mental illness returned with a vengeance, and my world caved in on itself.  In their wisdom, my doctors said that I would never work again.  I was 46.  This was in those happy days when people still believed in mental health day centres, those with severe mental illness weren’t expected to work, and recovery meant getting over a serious night’s heavy drinking session.
 

I visited the Day Centre more often, and took up art and writing more seriously, thinking that I may be able to make it as a writer and/or artist, and anyway, I enjoyed it.  In 1999, Centrepieces was formed.  It started as an odd collection of artists, based at the Crayford Day Centre.  Its formation gave my art more of a focus.  I soon learnt that making it as an artist or writer was extremely difficult, but I liked it, returning to work was out of the question for now, so I kept it as an extended hobby.  I saw it as an aid to my recovery, and, hopefully, to help make me fit for some sort of work again.  I also used art and writing as therapy.  I am now retired, and doing art and writing helps keep my mind and body going, as well as being an enjoyable hobby, and it helps keep senility at bay.  Also I know that others like my work, so I am doing a service to people, and putting something back into society.  

We did various workshops and classes, and did artwork at the Day Centre.  I partly treated the Centre as a studio.  I developed a skill in sculpture, which I practised and also taught others.  Centrepieces gave occupation, structure and meaning to my life.  I often went to the Centre six days a week, doing my artwork.  I also did various voluntary jobs at the Centre.  Centrepieces co-existed with other service users at the Centre, who were not particularly interested in art, but we got on fine together.  The government’s policy to day centres changed, and to keep in line with it, service users were not allowed to treat the centre just as a place to go, they had to do something there, so many users stopped coming.  I also did creative writing; the mental health charity, Survivors’ Poetry, brought out a collection of my poems in book form.  I also taught it at the Centre.  Employed there were psychiatric staff, who were a great help to me.

'Salamanca Skyline' by John Exell

Then we were told that the Day Centre was closing altogether.  We managed to find a new home for Centrepieces, which was a God-send.  It is in the grounds of Hall Place, the local Arts Centre and Museum.  It is idyllic.  It is now solely Centrepieces; the rest of the service users now go to the local MIND charity in Bexleyheath.  But we are now on our own:  we don’t have the financial support of the local mental health authorities.  We have now become a registered charity, and somehow just manage to hold our heads above water.  The change is an immense benefit all round.  The one drawback is that there are no psychiatric staff there, but we all pull together and help each other.  Some of us are key holders - I’m one - who keep the place open.  More artists are joining us, which is very good.  We sculpt, draw, paint and write.  Several of the more able help to run the place.      

'City of Towers' by John Exell

The Lodge, as the place is called, is a true joy.  It is wonderful to wander around the grounds of Hall Place.  They have a river with ducks and geese.  During the summer months they sell delicious ice cream.  It is a joy to sit in the courtyard of the Lodge, with friends.  We have a pet wild robin, who is getting bolder and bolder with us, and more trusting.  I sculpt in the courtyard, teaching others my skill, and also learning from others.  Inside we have a large circular drawing table which we all sit round and draw.  I also teach creative writing there.  

When we were told that the Day Centre was closing, we never dreamed that we would be so lucky as to find this place; now there is a danger of us in taking it all for granted.  I’m now living almost outside the psychiatric system, which is very good.  I did it in my thirties, and it worked, just relying on friends to guide me if necessary.  I hasten to add that I still take my medication.  In all, the move to the Lodge is very beneficial: very beneficial indeed.

MIND art workshop, September-October 2015

MY MIND'S EYE

Dawn Tomlin describes the benefits of the class run on Mondays at Centrepieces, specifically created for users of Bexleyheath's MIND mental health charity.

MIND papier mache art display

In 1994 I began my teaching journey. My vibrant and eager 4 and 5 year-olds were inquisitive explorers of the art world and approached art with enjoyment and without fear. Art was an important way to express themselves as individuals, a way to explore and learn new techniques and develop skills, but, most importantly, it was a natural way for them to relax, as well as find their own individual direction in the world of creativity.

“… the arts have been an inseparable part of the human journey; indeed, we depend on the arts to carry us toward the fullness of our humanity. We value them for themselves, and because we do, we believe knowing and practicing them is fundamental to the healthy development of our children's minds and spirits. That is why, in any civilization – ours included – the arts are inseparable from the very meaning of the term ‘education’. We know from long experience that no one can claim to be truly educated who lacks basic knowledge and skills in the arts.”
                                                                   

National Standards for Arts Education

As adults, many of us tend to lose the ability to create freely when producing art. Pablo Picasso (b.1881- d.1973) once said, ‘Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.’ In my mind’s eye, I see everyone as artists, but the self-belief and innocence of childhood has to be found again so adults can explore, enjoy and express themselves without fear. This is the outlook that I hope to nurture and develop within the MIND art group at Centrepieces; I believe we are all artists in our own right.

'Dudley', backdrawn mono-print and
oil pastels, by Jeremy Taylor

Centrepieces successfully began a learning partnership with MIND in Bexleyheath in November 2014. Each term, we meet on Monday mornings at 10am for an hour-and-a-half, for 8 weeks, when a new art medium, technique and related skills is introduced to the attendees. This is a new journey, one that we are all participating in and learning from together, teacher and artists alike. To date we have covered collage, mono-printing, clay tiles, organic sculpture, paper sculpture, papier-mâché, mask making and, most recently, Modroc modelling (plaster gauze).

In the Centrepieces MIND art group, each artist grows both as an individual and as a group member. Since teaching in these sessions, I have seen a positive effect on the artists’ mental health and social inclusion skills. Artists become more self-aware as their confidence grows, and their self-esteem in turn becomes stronger. Communication skills also improve, as well as the social and emotional skills needed to participate in group sessions. Pleasingly, there is also an increased resilience to the challenges involved in adapting to new social situations, particularly in overcoming obstacles when things do not go quite according to plan during the classes.

 Organic sculptures

The feelings of stability that the artists gain as the term goes on not only strengthens the bonds within the group, but also the artists’ friends and family. I have been fortunate to meet some of the parents, spouses and children of our MIND artists, and they have greeted me with positive feedback concerning their relatives’ well-being since attending the sessions, largely prompted by the new skills and knowledge they’ve gained. Not only that, in turn the artists have been passing on their new insight and knowledge to their friends and family.

For us here at Centrepieces, that’s extremely rewarding all round.

Modroc hands

Images copyright: Dawn Tomlin