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Living life her way: Helen’s story
This World Cerebral Palsy Day, we’re celebrating Helen, a much-loved...
Hailey Somerfield
Hailey is mostly non-verbal, and so she uses painting and sensory play to express her feelings and connect with the world around her. This year, her creativity will shine at Making Waves, an inclusive exhibition at Fringe World celebrating artists with disability.
A bright, energetic four-year-old, Hailey loves sensory play, running around outside with her sister, and has a big fascination with bubbles. When it comes to art, painting is her favourite activity, which she prefers because it offers smooth textures and calming sensations that help her regulate emotions and feel in control. “It’s the feeling of the different textures,” her mum Kathryn explains. “The paints, the way they move, it’s calming and intriguing for her.”
The story continues...
Art has not only given Hailey a voice but also strengthened family bonds. Her artwork helps her sister understand her feelings when she can’t verbalise them, and the colours she chooses often tell a story, dark colours might represent feelings of anger or sadness, and light colours represent happiness and joy. “A picture is like a story,” Kathryn explains. “It gives people insight into her mind.” Hailey loves showing her creations to others, delighting in the “wow” reactions from her family, friends and therapists. Each piece is a window into her world and it’s a way for others to meet her on her level and understand what she’s feeling.
How we helped
Hailey’s latest piece draws inspiration from the ocean, a place she loves for its calming waters and happy memories. Featuring shells and googly eyes, the artwork reflects her fascination with sound and movement. “She likes people to look at her,” Kathryn shares. “so the googly eyes she includes are a reflection of that because they move in a similar way to our eyes, and the shells remind her of picking one up on the beach to listen to the ocean.” This piece will be part of Rocky Bay’s FRINGE WORD showcase ‘Making Waves’, a bold and beautiful exhibition inspired by Western Australia’s coastline, running from Tuesday 27 January to Friday 6 February, the show celebrates creativity that refuses to stay inside the lines.
EVENT DETAILS
Dates: Tuesday 27 January – Friday 6 February (weekdays only)
Time: 8am – 5pm
Venue: Central Park Perth (lobby), 152–158 St Georges Terrace
Cost: Free
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
A few words
“She uses art as a way to express feelings she can’t verbalise,” Kathryn says. “Love hearts mean love; the sun means warmth. It’s her way of telling us what makes her happy.”
- Kathryn Somerfield
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