Move into mindfulness with new exhibition

Published Thursday, 16 May 2024
Colour yourself calm at Atkins Building

A new exhibition will open at Hinckley’s Atkins Gallery coinciding with National Mental Health Week and to support residents’ health and well-being.

Colour Yourself Calm is a multi-project exhibition curated by local artist Shani Smith, with support from Hinckley & Bosworth Brough Council, and promotes the benefits of art and movement when it comes to supporting mental health.
 
The exhibition is now open and runs until 29 May and is set to help visitors ‘Move into Mindfulness’. 

It will feature artwork from various artists and organisations in the community, including a community therapeutic project from Art to Heart funded by IM Properties; a photographic display of Shibashi Qigong, a form of moving meditation by Lindsay of Mayfield Wellbeing; and pieces by Hinckley & Rugby Building Society in conjunction with Art to Heart.

Staff at the Building Society rose to the challenge of creating art on their lunch breaks to support relaxation, reduce stress and improve productivity.  

There will also be a display called Inspirational People, which has been created by Hinckley’s Ten2 Gallery on Castle Street as part of their art classes programme.
 
As part of the Colour Yourself Calm exhibition, residents can also enjoy two special events. 

The first is a chance to meet the artist Shani Smith, who will be at Atkins Gallery on Tuesday 21 May from 10am to 12pm for a free artist demo. There will also be a selection of art materials for visitors to try their hand at. 

The second session will be a Vision Board workshop on 28 May, with a morning session planned from 10am to 12pm and an afternoon session from 1.30pm until 3.30pm.  

Vision boards are a creative way of helping you to reflect on what is important in your career, home or life in general, and can also encourage you to take the first steps to making dreams and goals a reality.

The workshop will cost £15 per person, which includes all materials and resources and a drink from the onsite Hansom Café. For more information or to book a place on the Vision Board Workshop, contact Lindsay Orton on lindsay.orton@hotmail.co.uk or 07498 841536.
 
The Colour Yourself Calm exhibition will also be supporting Hinckley & District Museum with a pop-up exhibition on the 80-year anniversary of Americans troops arriving in Hinckley and Burbage.

True Colours (Hinckley and Bosworth LGBT+ events) will also have a presentation, with a social meeting planned to honour International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia on 17 May, from 11am to 12pm. The event will be hosted by Matthew Hulbert and Reverend Robin Handford, and all are welcome to attend.

Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing at the Borough Council, Councillor Mark Bools said:

There is a vast array of different opportunities available at the Atkins Gallery. Exhibitions, workshops, meet the artist and presentations covering a wide range of subjects and themes. I hope residents and visitors will take the opportunity to stop by and enjoy all that is on offer.