IMAGINE ME ROYAL REHAB 2014
The Imagine Me project is an innovative creative awareness-raising project for people who are living with a spinal cord injury.The
Imagine Me pilot project was a collaboration between lead artist Sue
Murray and a group of 3 individuals living with spinal cord injury.
Pauline David Eddy Howard Sue Nedelkovska This project took place at the premises of Royal Rehab in the Recreational Therapy Community centre for 6 weeks in Oct 2014 This project was Funded by Royal Rehab as a pilot for the Recreational Therapy Dept.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project continues our mission of empowering people with spinal cord injury living across Australia, to explore their imagination in a creative process of skill-building photography workshops. The aim being to foster greater understanding towards people living with social disadvantage, and open up new creative opportunities by building skills and fostering community engagement.
Peer support is an important part of this process where people who sustained an injury sometime ago are working alongside others more recently injured. Offering support to each other, while they work together sharing creative ideas and experiences. Peer support is a valuable part of community health and well-being and this workshop process encourages people to broaden and build new social networks One of the great outcomes from this workshop was to trial the project as an annual event for the people with spinal cord injury in the recreational therapy unit. 
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Testimonial Pauline 2014
Pauline I didn't know what to expect attending this course as I never had a real interest in photography and never liked photos of myself or having them taken. During the 8 weeks I have found myself gaining more knowledge about Photoshop and how images are manipulated, what assistive technologies are available, become more comfortable in front of a camera, and most precious to me, gained some pretty awesome and amazing friends Testimonial Eddy 2014
Eddy Howard Imagine Me programme as: An unique opportunity for persons living with various disabilities to look deeply within themselves for an image which they believe best reflects their personal experience, feelings, or overall attitude towards being that person with a certain type of disability. Plus an added advantage of working along side fellow participants whom are empathetic and caring enough to also share in being part of the creative process to bring their envisioned image into reality. Comments from Exhibition visitors
In reference to the portrait of Eddy, the wolf… It is imperative that art is included in peoples lives for essential wellbeing —Dianna
These photos and stories make people real and help breakdown barriers Good work. —Michelle Curry An excellent, amazing and inspiring exhibition! Thankyou for sharing! thanks also for coming all the way from Lismore! I shall look up your website and enjoy sharing all the photos and scripts with my quadriplegic son, Martin. Keep up your great work! God bless —Christine Gorman Congratulations to all of the artists. Great pieces and inspiring stories. Thanks —Peter Crscic This exhibition was fantastic – the stories along with the images are so moving, the intimacy revealed has really opened my eyes to the unspoken side of the disabilities and how brave all the people are for doing this. I loved the openness and honesty of the images. Thankyou for this. —Antonia Moore Congratulations to all that has been involved in the imagine me project. They are all so open and honest for a task that I imagine would be so hard. The messages contained within all of the artwork hit home and remind me of the obstacles people face everyday and also the freedoms that can also be experienced. Great work! —Emma Turner LWB Thoroughly enjoyed reading and viewing all pieces. The individual stories definitely touch you. Thankyou for sharing – much appreciated. —Angie Nero LWB WOW!! What a journey for everyone. I am very impressed with the outcome. Thanking you very much for the experience. —Kylie P Thought all the photos were amazing and the courage and openness in their writings was inspirational. Thankyou. —Di Ellison What an amazing exhibition – really highlights how people have different focuses on their lives. Incredible to discover that regular people can be so creative !! --Jacqui |