Artist Celia Burbush Reflects on Her Hope Haven Residency

The end of my residency with Hope Haven is drawing to close, and what an experience it has been. Since mid-March, I have been taking my full studio set-up into this fantastic new health hub in Whitehaven, a place where anyone can walk straight in, night or day, and find help for an array of problems, particularly mental health. I would situate myself next to a large glass window, with views that face out towards Whitehaven harbour, and I can’t remember many days when the sun didn’t shine. I would unpack my easel, spread out my paints, pin up an array of my oil paintings, unmounted on primed canvas, then set to work. These paintings conveyed parts of my life experiences, containing figures, recognisable as human or creature, but morphed into shapes and scenes that are otherworldly but expressed things I couldn’t say or put my finger on.

Each week, the hard-working and welcoming staff would introduce themselves and their clients to me. Hope Haven had created such as special atmosphere, that people were very open and honest about their lives. In our conversations, often about the characters in my paintings, we would find common ground to meet on, a place that could have felt vulnerable, yet the feeling was of ease, due to the protective space of the Haven. Gradually, some clients began to make a point of dropping by on the days I was in, to continue our discussions about what art could be made for the building, and how they could build on their art skills. I enjoyed these encounters. People began drawing, scrapbooking, sewing, colouring in, doing their diamond art and creating intricate mandala designs. On quieter days, the staff would also take five, sitting down to needle-felt, a moment of catharsis. These moments were priceless too.

Thank you to you, Hope Haven and your clients who, for my short time, made me feel such an important part of your wonderful project.