Mel On Display

Mel proudly displays her paintings

Mel is a social butterfly.  She likes to be one of the party and spends considerable time each week catching up with friends.  Like most of us she has a routine and visits her friends on certain days and times.  She is put out when plans change, but she would rather change the day and time than miss out on socialising.
She not quite so keen on her weekly art class.  She attends the DADAA*  class because people, namely clinic doctors and other professionals ask her what she does in her week.  It's not that she doesn't enjoy sloshing around with paints and crayons, it's just not rated as highly as her one to one friendships.
Mel has been attending art class almost forever. She is no Claude Monet or Leonardo da Vinci.  She is Mel. Our Mel who does her best to take a blank canvas and express herself in her drawings and her paintings.  This year she drew and painted, '2 Japanese Owls' and 'An American Eagle'.  DADAA held their annual art exhibition in the Midland Junction Art Centre, which featured 82 artists, including our Mel. 
We had hoped to attend the opening night but Mel chose to go to the movies with her brother instead!  Admittedly we attended last year and there was hardly room to move in the 19th century building.  At least it was easier to move around today and more comfortable for Merv.  We admired every artist's work in the two front rooms and along the passage.  There is some amazing art work.  Mel's friend who she sees every Tuesday also had her painting on display,  she is a very talented lady.  It was inspiring to see such variety in the work displayed. There were numerous models of light houses, wire-shaped Australian animals and tie-dyed fabric with silhouettes of a line of young women.  A number of differing collages hung proudly on the walls.
The sign said do not take photos.  I positioned Mel in front of her two paintings, told her to smile and swiftly took a photo and hid my camera.  Just in the nick of time as the overseer entered the passageway only seconds later.  Parents can be so naughty sometimes!!

*DADAA works across Western Australia to enhance the social inclusion and wellbeing of people with disability or mental illness through participation in the arts