Work to install memorial art pieces marking the challenges faced by Trust colleagues and patients during the Covid pandemic is finally underway.
The first poster of The Tree of Life artwork – one of the largest co-creation projects ever undertaken at TEWV – is now on show at ARCH Recovery College in Durham.
Other copies of the patchwork picture, which includes hundreds of photos of staff and patients taken during lockdown, are to be displayed at sites across the site soon.
Art therapist Andy Walker, who led the project, said: “I’m delighted that, after five long years, people are finally going to be able to see this amazing art for themselves.
“It serves as a lasting reminder of the pandemic, reflecting the experiences, resilience and creativity of staff and people in our care during the Covid lockdown of 2020.”
Inspiration in dark times
Andy was running an art therapy group in Durham when Covid first hit. Instead of closing the service down, he took it outside – making art while walking and talking.
The pandemic became the focus of a unique art project; with members creating hundreds of images of lockdown – including nature photos, positive messages, pictures of books and mask selfies.
Colleagues from the across our Trust were also asked to send in their own paintings or portraits for the project – with the final artwork, The Tree of Life, taking five years to complete.
“This has been a totally patient-led project, with patient voice at the centre of everything. The piece contains a lot of positive messages, which I hope will help other people,” said Andy.
“Hundreds of people helped to make this piece of art possible, and I’d like to thank them all. It really does honour the struggles faced and the unity and hope found.”
Rolling out the artwork Trust-wide
The Tree of Life artwork can currently be viewed via our website – but posters are also to be installed across the Trust. The first is now on show at ARCH and others are currently being printed.
Composed of 2,025 images, including photos of patients and staff taken during lockdown, the Tree of Life stands as a tribute to the community spirit shown during the pandemic.
Among those to have their photo featured in the collage is Trust lead occupational therapist Rachel Booth-Gardiner, whose life was turned upside down after catching Covid in 2020.
She spent more than a year in hospital, including five months in intensive care, and her journey to recovery was captured on camera by her photographer husband Anthony.
“I’m really proud of the artwork. It is a true piece of co-creation, supported by so many patients, staff and carers, and reflects on what was a really difficult time,” she said.
“I’m so pleased that people are finally going to be able to see it properly for the first time.”
Co-creating a unique artwork for everyone
Rachel’s husband Anthony spent hours carefully weaving all the photos and art works together to create the final design of the Tree of Life – and her image is included in the piece.
“The artwork is testament to the solidarity and hope that carried us through Covid,” she said. “It represents the struggles we all faced, and the journey we have grown from.”
Dr Jo Nadkarni, director of therapies at Durham, Tees Valley and Forensic services, is also featured in the collage – and is a long-time supporter of the Tree of Life artwork.
She said: “I am so pleased that all of our patients, carers, families and staff right across the Trust will finally be able to see this piece as they go about their daily business.
“This is an important art work with key messages around destigmatising mental health, hope and living through covid. It is a real credit to everyone who has been part of this project.”
- Take a closer look at the Tree of Life artwork in a short video of the picture.
