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COMIC CREW: Helping promote The World's Biggest Comic in Whyalla is Anne Ryan, Kimberley Pursche,
Richard Parker, Deborah Hughes, Janice Eygenraam and Gail Rostig.
Whyalla will be drawing on its resident artistic talent to get in toon with mental health over the next eight months with an exciting new public art project called The World’s Biggest Comic.
Instead of a traditional public art project, with individually painted murals and the like, the city will soon have a giant, informative comic printed on big panels and spread throughout the city.
Project co-ordinator, Richard Parker from Whyalla Suicide Prevention Network, said the project will involve collaborating with local artists and creatives to develop an inspiring story based on the five ways of wellbeing in nature.
“The World’s Biggest Comic will promote mental wellness by exploring themes such as connection, being active and life-long learning” Richard said.
Phase 1 of the project begins this weekend with a two-hour Whyalla Writers Group workshop this Saturday (November 24) at the Whyalla Public Library starting at 10am.
"The act of creating something – anything – is courageous, meaningful and inherently therapeutic - Richard Parker
The aim of the workshop will be to generate ideas for the story and a free lunch will be provided with all ages welcome to attend.
“The World’s Biggest Comic is not just about the final outcome,” Richard said.
“By using a collaborative, participatory process design, we aim to promote community wellbeing through inclusion.
“The act of creating something – anything – is courageous, meaningful and inherently therapeutic.
“In addition to working with professional artists, we look forward to collaborating with writers and artists from a diverse range backgrounds and levels of experience.”
Phase 2 of the project will see three professional artists engaged and the creation of the first artworks in time for the Whyalla UneARTh Festival at Easter next year. Phase 3 will represent an ongoing partnership with collaborating artists and Phase 4 will see ongoing work with participating schools to complete the project, culminating in the production of a printed guidebook and a public- launch event.
“I’m incredibly passionate about the arts and hope this project helps to continue the important work that has been accomplished over the past few years in elevating our city’s indefatigable and undeniable creative talent,” Richard said.
“It is my opinion that the arts should be an unapologetically central and fundamental part of our lives, woven into the fabric of what we do and who we want to be. Art allows us to know ourselves.”
The project, an initiative of the Whyalla Suicide Prevention Network, is being supported by the City of Whyalla, Country SA Primary Health Network, National Suicide Prevention, Trial Suicide Prevention Small Grants and the SA Office of the Chief Psychiatrist Suicide Prevention Community Grant Scheme, along with in-kind support from The University of South Australia and the Uni-SA Department of Rural Health.
To find out more about Saturday’s workshop ring Richard on 0409 518 567 or email richard@dreamthink.com.au.
To see the World's Biggest Comic stakeholder prospectus go to: http://www.dreamthink.com.au/WBCB_Stakeholder_Prospectus_Final.pdf
