On 10th October 2024, we officially opened the doors to our ‘Expressions of Trauma’ exhibition, featuring multi-media artwork created by people living with the effects of trauma.
The exhibition, hosted in partnership with our Trauma Ambassador Group, features pieces aiming to raise empathy and awareness of trauma, covering sensitive themes including bereavement, abuse, chronic pain, and forced adoption, amongst others.
Lynsey Rozee, one of the exhibition contributors, visited the completed exhibition at The Minories Gallery, Colchester, on our celebration event evening. Lynsey was deeply moved by the art on display, and wrote a poem which she shared with us.
Expressions of Trauma
We opened our hearts
Shared our vulnerability and pain
In the hopes we could help someone else to open up
To share their voice
Let their worries fly
Because for every one of us
Sharing
There are more feeling invisible
They need to know
There’s always hope
We have been there ourselves
Travelled the journey
Bared our souls
Learnt to channel our feelings
In positive ways
Through creativity
We feel calmer
We move forward
We process
We grow.
The exhibition remains open at The Minories Gallery (74 High Street, CO1 1UE) from 10am – 4pm every Thursday to Sunday until 10th November. It is free entry, and a member of the Healthwatch Essex team will always be on site to answer questions, alongside contributors who will occasionally be in attendance to speak about their work.
If you would like to find out more about our trauma focussed work, contact our Information and Guidance Manager, Sharon, at [email protected]
Thank you to ACT for kindly sponsoring the exhibition.