Art aids in recovery for soldiers, sailors and aviators

‘A Shared Journey of Recovery’ is an exhibition celebrating and recognising New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel who have been injured, wounded or became ill as part of/during their service to our country. It also recognises their family and friends, and the families of our fallen.

Art in Recovery has been running since 2018 and this is the first time art work has been open to the public to view.

New Zealand Army Liaison Officer Injured, Wounded and Ill, Captain Rebecca Millar, says this exhibition has allowed stories to be shared through art and aims to enhance a sense of wellbeing.

“We have 20 artists and more than 30 pieces of art across a variety of mediums including mouth painting, sculptures, welding, digital art and more.

“Our oldest former serving artist is 89 years old and it’s been lovely to see him reconnect with military though his art.”

She said Art in Recovery was about raising awareness of recovery through art by exhibiting and showcasing work by NZDF people. 

“The journey to recovery can be found in many forms, including art and creativity which is just one therapeutic method that can help in the recovery process,” Captain Millar said.

Former Royal Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft technician Gill McFarlane spent 17 years in uniform. She now works as a civilian at RNZAF Base Woodbourne in health and safety.

Mrs McFarlane has two pieces of art in the exhibition and says her first taste of Art in Recovery was in 2021 with the Art in Recovery Workshop where she discovered a love of painting landscapes.

“It was so refreshing to be able to talk about what was happening inside my head, and have an outlet to encapsulate my feelings.

“When I got home, I tried all the different techniques taught and then I started to paint watercolours. I have been doing that for about a year now. I found I really enjoying painting landscapes. I doubt my paintings are technically correct, but it was more about enjoyment than technical skill.

“I didn’t consider art as an outlet until I attended the Art in Recovery workshop, and now it is a regular tool in my mental wellness toolbox,” she said.

Mrs McFarlane said it meant a lot to her to be a part of Art in Recovery.

“I think it is really important to create open, honest conversations around mental health and mental injuries. For such a long time there has been massive stigma and I think we are moving away from those attitudes and Art in Recovery is a really cool way to do that,” she said.

The exhibition runs for six days and is free to attend.

As a non-public funding event, this initiative could not have happened without the support of sponsors The Fallen Heroes Trust, Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand and the RSA.

Art in Recovery ‘A Shared Journey of Recovery’

• Where: Pūmanawa Community Exhibition Space, Level 1, 28 Worcester Boulevard, The Arts Centre, Christchurch
• When: 1 October to 6 October 2024
• Time: 10am-5pm daily