Art exhibition by mental health sufferers pays tribute to
its founder
9 September 2010
An art exhibition by people with
mental illness will now also be a tribute to its founder, after
he sadly died earlier this year.
Steve Finnimore set up
Art Uniting
People in 2008 and in 2009, the first exhibition was
held, showcasing the work of artists from all over Kent. The idea
of the exhibition was to promote awareness of the talent of those
with mental health issues, physical disabilities and learning
disabilities by displaying their work alongside pieces from
other amateur artists as well as professionals. The 2009 exhibition
was a great success with over 700 members of the public attending
over a three week period, and displaying 147 works of art from 42
artists.
Planning for this year's free
exhibition, which
will run
from 13 -
24 September at
the gallery at
County Hall, Maidstone, suffered a tragic
set-back in July when Steve passed away suddenly from a
heart attack. Steve was well known around Maidstone where he had
lived for several years and well liked by everyone he met. He was a
generous and kind man who would never hesitate in talking to
strangers and would help people in trouble, when others may not
have given them the time of day.
Despite Steve’s death, planning for the exhibition continued.
Richard Tanner, Beryl Bush, Roy Bray and Lynn Hodges have been
instrumental in carrying on Steve’s work saying "Steve sadly passed
away suddenly on 30th July 2010 whilst planning for this year's
event. We are hoping to make the event bigger and better than last
year's exhibition as a tribute to Steve."
This year there
are 75 artists showing 178 pieces. While many artists
have returned from last year’s exhibition, there are a lot of new
artists, many of whom are amateurs who previously lacked the
confidence to display their work to the public. Well-known local
art patron Graham Clarke is showing two pictures and professionals
from across Kent are also getting involved.
The youngest artists are Sam
and Charlie Joy, aged 11and
12 who have produced striking photographs and line drawings. Four
of the artists attend an Age
Concern group and the
overall range of work includes portraits, life
drawings, animals and plants, landscapes and abstracts in all forms
of media as well as several pieces in the form of sculpture and
jewellery.