Painting with Parkinsons is now recognized as one of the most effective art therapy groups for people with Parkinson’s disease in the world. But when Nancy Tingey founded Painting with Parkinsons in November 1994 she could only attract two members. Her husband Bob then joined up to support her initiative and a fourth was sent along on medical advice.

 

All the paintings by these four enthusiasts were displayed at the Parkinson’s ACT Christmas lunch in 1994. They attracted such interest that the next term began with 11 members and by March 1995 there were 12. The rest, as they say, is history.

 

Painting with Parkinsons meets weekly in the Joseph Banks building at the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra. Although Bob Tingey is the only remaining member of the first intake the present group continues to practice the specially developed art therapy program to experience improved mental health and help them combat the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s disease. The benefits include improved social interaction, sense of humour and relief from stress and depression. In a sheltered and supportive workshop situation, communication skills improve, opportunities for self expression increase and feelings of self worth are enhanced through creative art activity. Distressing physical symptoms, such as tremor, may also be alleviated

 

The program is designed to provide a ‘can do’ activity for people whose illness has turned abilities into disabilities. A normal class begins with a winding down time of chat, tea and cake followed by a meditation or centering-down time to calm

 the nervous system and focus the mind. A person with Parkinson’s has difficulty dealing with two activities at once, for example walking and talking, as there is a break down in the body’s communication system through a lack of messaging chemicals in the brain.  This deficiency may also mean that triggers or clues may be needed to start activity. So to get the participant going with their art work various tricks or clues are used to initiate movement; for example, doodling with eyes closed will take the angst out of making the first mark while providing an image to stimulate more lines.

 

Curiously, evidence suggests creative ability is enhanced rather that decreased by Parkinson’s disease. Certainly it seems that when the activity ‘kicks in’ there is no stopping the artist at work. In Antarctic Waters Bob Tingey worked continuously for an hour and a half, beginning with waving arm movements which then became waves across the paper as the trigger to start the drawing. Once engaged with the process Bob turned this into a deeply felt experience by adding watercolour and acrylic, layer upon layer, to build up his image.

 

Since 1999 the group has been led by John Pratt and Roberta Turner with an able support team of therapists and helpers. They work tirelessly to raise funds and keep the show on the road. Frequent exhibitions help spread the word and celebrate the role of art as a therapy. A film about the project Making a Mark is also in preparation.

 

Contact nancytingey@googlemail.com for further information.