Whether you enter it or just go see it an upcoming art exhibition, it is sure to inspire and amaze you.
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The Shoalhaven Mental Health Fellowship is preparing for its community art competition in June, and now is the time to get creating.
Works will be on display from Saturday, June 8 to Saturday, July 27 at the Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra.
Anybody can enter this competition. You don't need to have a mental health issue or be a member of a mental health group.
Ann Frankham, who is helping to organise the event, says it's all about inclusiveness.
"People with mental health issues want to be included in things and so we want to include the broader community in this event," she said.
Ann said works must follow the event's theme however, which is recovery related.
"The artworks need to marry up with the theme which is vital connections," she said.
"That theme could mean anything to anybody. It would be your pet dog, your family and it could be what you do in terms of keeping yourself well.
"People express journeys or whatever they have experienced through creativity."
She explained a person's family might have played a role in helping recovery.
"So your family could be your vital connection," she said.
The group has the theme but how that theme is interpreted and the medium used to create a work is entirely up to the artist.
She said the exhibition was always well-supported.
"Previous exhibitions have been outstanding," she said.
The mental health advocate expects this year's exhibition to continue the tradition of excellence.
Ann is on her own road to recovery and said her vital connection is "a very dear friend" who lives in Ulladulla.
She came down to Ulladulla from Sydney a number of years ago and mentally crashed.
"I actually had a breakdown," she said.
She was sent to a hospital in Shellharbour but her friend made an effort to go see Ann and make sure she was all right.
Ann is not an artist but one imagines her "vital connection" work would be bright, happy and would have love oozing from it.
Recovery will no doubt shine from the works.
Ann said they like to say 'people don't have a mental illness but instead they are recovering from a mental illness'.
"What language you use is really important, particularly with mental health because there is still this massive ignorance about mental health and stigma with it," she said.
She did say attitudes are improving.
Read More: Ann's amazing road to recovery
The works can include mediums like photography along with paintings of various formats. All sorts of mediums can be entered but there is a size limit.
Ann suggests people come along to the regional gallery and pick up an entry kit which contains all the details.
People can also go to www.shoalhavenregionalgallery.com.au to get more information.
Ann wants to thank the staff from the gallery for their support and generosity.
"They are generous with their space allocation, support and advice," she said.
Independent judges will be looking at the entries and there are cash prizes for first, second and third placing.
Awards for highly commended, outstanding achievement and encouragement may be given, if the judges deem fit.
The art exhibition, along with 'Crack up Night' gala event used to be yearly and run by the group.
Both events will now be bi-annual with the art exhibition this year and the Crack up Night next year.