Scleroderma is a rare disease that affects the skin and makes movement almost impossible.
A young local artist known as Shopana was studying art at TAFE college when she was diagnosed with scleroderma.
But this determined young woman did not let this terrible affliction stop her from doing her art.
She has just kept going, and with the help of art therapy at Solace Creative Therapies in Gregory Hills is about to exhibit some of her latest work.
“Amazing Shopana has created many large paintings this year,’’ says Abigail Ristevski, the art therapist at Solace Creative Therapies.
“She is an example of resilience and positive thinking.’’
Some of Shopana’s artworks were on display around Camden during the March kerbside exhibition Who I Am, pictured above.
The annual Solace Creative Therapies exhibition – with more than 50 participants – will be hosted in the Camden Library this year.
It will be launched this Saturday, October 7 and can be viewed until the end of the month.
Also exhibiting will be young vision impaired artist Liam, who has created a series of large fluid art paintings, pictured at right.
Liam has an artwork currently on display at this year’s Camden Kerbside exhibition Local Heroes.
Last year’s inaugural Solace Creative Therapies art exhibition featured brother and sister Lukas and Tiana, who were also interviewed by the South West Voice.
Ms Ristevski says Lukas will be presenting an animation and some new paintings, while Tiana has completed a beautiful large watercolour painting of Belle from Beauty and the Beast.
The Solace Creative Therapies team includes four art therapists, a music therapist and an equine therapist.
For more information on Solace Creative Therapies please visit their website, https://www.solacecreativetherapies.com.au/
