Life is big right now, and I think we’re all trying to hold a lot in, to work through our immense sadness, grief, overwhelm and inability to completely understand what is happening in our country right now. Like so many of you, I know we’re all feeling deeply… holding the pain of loved ones, communities, the utter devastation at even thinking about the millions of hectares of forest and billions of animals who have perished in these fires.

For months now we have all been on watch, and since December it all intensified. I was glued to a screen, seeking news and updates. Mostly because my brother and sister-in-law were evacuated, but also because I could barely believe what I was seeing.

The immediacy of the power of grief so strong. Feeling helpless being so far away. And throwing all my energy into being updated and knowing what was happening.

In those few days I felt the way my body became anxious, fraught with stress, wound up and caught up. And I knew that it wasn’t healthy for me, my body, or for the energy I had to give to healing other people, forests, animals, or putting thoughts into offering assistance for healing.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending our local art gallery, Tweed Regional Gallery, and immersing in the way that art can nourish us, heal us and give us energy to take back into our lives.

The Hiromi Hotel, was created by local, internationally-renowned artist Hiromi Tango, as a “space for people to rest, unpack their thoughts and feelings, and perhaps lighten their spirits along the way”. She has been creating her Hiromi Hotel for the past 10 years, with many iterations. With the word hotel being not a place of accommodation, but coming from the French word as a space where people come to be cared for, nurtured and healed.

This is Hiromi’s first exhibition in our award-winning local gallery. And it’s the first time I’ve seen her work in person, though I’ve seen it online numerous times.

I must admit I wasn’t sure what to expect, as there is a bit of fluro-lighting and shiny sparkly things, where I know, and am intrigued by, the textile aspect of Hiromi’s work. But I was pleasantly surprised that way Hiromi entangled her Japanese culture and heritage, her love of tactile recycled reusing textiles alongside the more modern aspects of pop culture and fluro.

My kids and I really enjoyed the way the shiny reflective surfaces, the rainbows of colour, and lighting drew us in. Strangely we wanted to catch glimpses of ourselves - not strange at all, really. Humans are quite vain aren’t we! What we found once we were looking closely at our own reflection was that we found the lighting created an interesting effect for our eyes and our minds. In a slight way of being caught in a trance, and taking those moments to really stop, slow down and look deeper - within the artwork, and within ourselves.

This is part of Hiromi’s way, her underpinning. Drawing us in with, at first glance, simple works such as the fluro lighting or her hand penciled healing circle drawings. Stand back and we see them as almost one solid colour, but step in, take the time to explore a little closer, and you’ll see the intricate work within the pencil lines.

The way that Hiromi’s work is about process, which of course, is what my work is about too. The way process, and the physical doing of the creative work, brings us into the moment. Mindfulness is about being clearly focussed - and when you look at the smallest of circles and colour shifts in these pieces you become slightly entranced in the joyful process.

Of course, the true beauty of this exhibition, of Hiromi’s whole idea about having a ‘hotel’ for people to visit, is the things you can do there. While we were there on Wednesday the gallery was offering free guided visualisations, as well as offering a space for creating your own healing circle drawings.

I haven’t sat down and listened to a guided visualisation for many man years. My mum was a yoga teacher, so we grew up with them. Which of course I loved. But somewhere along the way, I simply haven’t had the time, space, opportunity to sit and being guided along by someone else’s voice. Taking just those 10 minutes (I left the kids contentedly at the drawing table in the other room), and Joanna Joy - a local art therapist - took a roomful of people along what was one of the most healing, quietening and fully aware- present moments.

The visualisation she took us on was along the beach, which after knowing my brother and sister-in-law, and many many many other Australians had spent harrowing times on our beaches hiding from fires, it was - for me - a way to heal the fact that I had been so far away, so unable to help. Her words a balm for my over-anxious heart, and overwhelmed mind.

Next Wednesday (January 15th) prize-winning performance poet will be inspire visitors with how to create mindful Haiku. My daughter and I are planning on going along to that as well, as it will be interesting, inspiring and something different for both of.

I do find, that being a creative art / craft teacher, I don’t often have the time or space to go to other classes. And it’s so vital, to be guided in new ways, to learn and do new things. To make time for ourselves, to nourish ourselves - and in the process it gives us the energy to rise up and nourish the world as well.

I can only imagine the words that will be written next week in the Haiku sessions! I know my time spent both looking at, and participating with the healing circle drawing, coming back to that aspect of the circle of nature, as Hiromi says '“it’s a cell, the foundation of all life”, will become a space for my emotions and overwhelming thoughts at the harshness of our current climate to speak out loudly and eloquently.

I know that art, craft, creativity are vital for healing, for mindfulness - golly I wrote a book about that! - but it’s important to step outside our sewing rooms, move beyond our craft circles, and experience new versions of what art and creativity can do for us when we’re part of the community.

I know that we are immensely privileged to have the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre in my home town. It’s quite an amazing gallery, with an excellent dedication to local artists, but also bringing national and international artists to our region. But more than that I’ve seen the gallery be a space for conversations, for sharing ideas, for education, for asking questions and listening. For encouraging children to be part of the space, and create exhibitions that allow people from all walks of life to be inspired, rather than only ‘arty’ people.

I suppose what I’m mostly saying - in this environmental climate we need art to nourish us, to create conversations about our mental health, our environmental health. We need art more than ever - when the Prime Minister takes away our Arts Minister, we should be flocking to our art galleries (both private and public) and making it known that the arts are one of (maybe the most) vital aspect of humanity!

I think my favourite piece in Hiromi Hotel was this piece. And, forgetting I didn’t write the name down, but I also think we don’t also need to know the names of all artworks - we can simply enjoy them. This shows the wrapping of Kimonos combined with neon glows. Have a look at these ones on Hiromi’s website - I think you’ve love these too.

The exhibition continues until 15th March, 2020. During January come along on Wednesdays for the Summer program - Healing Wednesdays. IN case you’ve never visited the Tweed Gallery before, it is closed on Monday and Tuesday, and opened all the other days 10am-5pm (NSW). But if you happen to visit Murwillumbah - that’s my home town - on a Monday or Tuesday, then you can visit The Gallery DownTown and M-Arts in the main precinct of Murwillumbah. (That’s where my studio is, for those of you taking note).

The gallery is free entry, and all the activities - including art circles, Haiku and Slow Art Movement (on Wednesday 22nd January) are also free. You can see all the times and details on the gallery website here.

*This post was sponsored by the Tweed Regional Gallery& Margaret Olley Art Centre. All words, thoughts, and photos are my own. I did ask my kids their thoughts too. And also, some of these photos were taken by my photo-assistant, my son Ari Messina. Please do go and visit the gallery - we need to show up and nourish ourselves; but also showing support to the places the (financially) support my business makes me feel happy.
I hope you know that I only ever work with places and people who I truly believe in, and would genuinely suggest and recommend to you. I’ve been loving and visiting this gallery (in it’s previous location as well as this beautiful new location) since I was a young girl. The staff are friendly, the volunteers are great, and the exhibitions are always interesting. The view from the verandah is a worth a visit alone!