Exhibition puts art by former refugees on show

‘‘When I see bare walls, I want to put pictures on them.’’

There are so many paintings in Penelope Trought’s home that she could hold an exhibition – so she’s doing just that.

The dozens of paintings scattered around her spare bedroom have been created by former refugees who she has been teaching to paint and will be on show on October 14 in an exhibition in Lower Hutt.

Trought started the programme for former refugees to link them with each other and with other parts of the community.

She has been a Red Cross volunteer for 12 years and began the painting programme from her house in Lower Hutt last November after helping former refugees set up their homes.

She noticed many didn’t have anything to brighten up the often drab walls of their new homes and decided something needed to be done about it.

‘‘When I see bare walls, I want to put pictures on them.’’

Abraham and Layla Javid are former refugees from Afghanistan and had never painted before they came to New Zealand.

Having done a painting each they were now looking forward putting brush to canvas again.

They said it was a ‘‘relaxing’’ experience and were keen to put more art on their walls.

‘‘The next one will be bigger and better,’’ Layla Javid said.

Support for the project came from the Hutt City Council’s Creative Communities Fund which had enabled Trought to provide paint and other materials.

She has now hosted more than 30 people of all ages and abilities from around the world at her painting sessions. People from Columbia, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Syria and Myanmar have all sat around her dining room table to create their artworks.

‘‘Anyone can join in. It’s not art therapy, most people just want something beautiful on their walls.’’

Trought planned on applying for the the latest round of funding to continue the project.

The exhibition will be held at the Hutt City Baptist Church on High St on Saturday, October 14. Attendees are encouraged to bring a plate for a shared dinner at 5.30pm and speeches will begin around 7pm.

MATTHEW TSO/STUFF Layla and Abraham Javid had never painted before and enjoyed learning how. Left, Penelope Trought has been running the programme to teach former refugees how to paint.