Sparkling jackets promote mental health creativity
It’s bright, it’s colourful and it sparkles.
Te Ara Korowai has won the creative category of Pimp My Jacket, a competition organised by MIX Wellbeing Centre in Lower Hutt for their bright and fun pimped-up jacket.
The competition, in its third year, attracted 96 entries this year, with 66 of those entering the creative category.
Pimp My Jacket is about bringing people together through creativity and celebrating the value of creativity to support mental wellbeing.
It’s about raising awareness of the creative skills of those going through tough times rather than focusing on the negative labels often attributed to them.
Avalanche Inclusive Band from The Shed Project also represented Ka¯ piti by performing and entertaining guests at the event.
“This year Pimp My Jacket just caught everybody’s attention,” said Te Ara Korowai’s Shona McNeil.
“It got too big for The Dowse and was held at the Events Centre in Lower Hutt.
“The whole thing was so good, all the jackets were fantastic.”
Te Ara Korowai’s jacket was a collaborative effort with over 40 members creating a mandala design that was sown onto the jacket.
It will be displayed to the public at Flux, the community space at the Wellington Museum during Mental Health Awareness Week by creative spaces as part of a joint exhibition with Ka¯ piti’s The Shed Project, MIX and Vincent’s Art Workshop.
Taking place from October 8-14 from 10-5pm, the jacket will be on display with Te Ara Korowai’s Tree of Life along with more artwork by members of The Shed Project.