The day we messed about with pipe cleaners!

Often for the WellArt group we ask if there is anything anyone fancies having a go at. Of course you get the ironic or sarcastic suggestions but then somebody says something and everyone in the room goes "YES!". That is how we ended up with pipe cleaners.

What really surprised me was the way they were used to express some serious issues for the people involved.

One person had been suffering with pains in their limbs and had been struggling with understanding what it was about and getting information from their doctor. They created two pieces entitled "Limbo" to express the state they felt in.

Another member who makes jewellery from recycled materials saw the opportunity to create some bodily adornment. I think it may have started as being a small piece but once you start messing with the pipe cleaners it is very hard to stop!

I also was a little carried away. I used the pipe cleaners to explore a nightmare I had recently suffered with relating to problems with neuropathy about losing all senses except pain (I apologise for the uncheerful nature of this!). I combined text about senses with the spiky arranged pipe cleaners representing pain.

Sometimes when you create artwork in groups like this you get moments where people open up and confront issues by making something that allows them to express how they are feeling about an issues that really effects their lives. Once having let it out they feel better or more able to describe it to others.