Legacy lives on but not cast in stone

Legacy lives on but not cast in stone

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The Artist Christian Corbat was interested in world mythology, art and healthcare issues and she combined these in a unique form, using sculpture as a way to transform personal perspective. Christiane is principally known for casting of torsos with women with breast cancer, (link) http://www.christianecorbat.com/ for her Global Heart Exhibition.

Christian died in 2006 but her work lives on in the hands of mixed media artist Pat Armitstead. Pat has been casting people who have been moving through grief and loss over the last 3 years using this process, which involves capturing the shape of various body parts and creating a sculptured piece. This casting is preceeded by a reverent and ceremonial storytelling exercise which opens the space for creativity to kick in. A body part is then cast and a sculpture made using selected symbols, words, colours, textures and decoupage.

Pat says “Each person has their own story, yet their fears, hopes, anguish and dreams are universal. The link between individual and global human concerns creates an image then which touches many. In the face of life events such as unemployment, redundancy, debilitating illnesses, loss of a partner, loss of home and possessions people can perceive that they no longer have control and give up This art form is about restoring hope and encouraging full self expression ”

With her background in health and positive psychology Pat is able to see the significance and the beauty of what is transpiring in their lives and add that aspect to the creation. People are supported to find the lessons and make sense of the pain or loss, which reconnects them to higher energy levels. Pat says everyone is able to live a pleasant, engaged and meaningful life irrespective of current circumstances!

Diane from Integrated Events Centre is pleased to be hosting the next workshop, especially she says with the current rates of depression of 1:4 for New Zealand. So many people are hurting right now and body casting is a profound tool that supports the participant as well as the viewer. The absorption of the artistic process takes people away from the world of the downward spiral to a world of possibility. This is where transformation occurs. People have realizations about how they can or have overcome traumatic events and can craft a way forward.

ENDS

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