Wild Thing (you make my heart sing)

As the Waterford Healing Arts Trust Artist in Residence 2017 I ran a Participatory Arts Project called Wild Thing (you make my heart sing) as part of Well Festival of Arts and Wellbeing, University Hospital Waterford.

The Well Festival of Arts and Wellbeing focuses on the positive contribution the arts can make to one’s mental and emotional health. I wanted to organise a project that was driven by process and community, and conveyed the joy that comes from a project’s journey. Gifting, sharing and equality were also central themes of the project. Each person’s contribution to the work, be it the donation of materials, the making of a flower, the delivery of a flower were core to it’s realisation.

"The display of the beautifully crafted flowers in the foyer of the hospital was a beautiful heart-warming sight. I observed so many staff and visitors admire the flowers in the foyer.

. . .Two staff Nurses also stopped and admired the flowers and they were offered a flower each to take away. They were both overcome with this thoughtfulness and could not believe this kindness shown to them. One of the staff nurses picked the colours her daughter would like."

Clare Tully, Head of Nursing UHW