Care4u2
Care4u2 Respite.Outreach is an Non Profit Organisation working with special needs individuals.
Our aim is “To empower and uplift the lives of cognitively and physically challenged individuals.”
Respite is a short well deserved break for the parents/ caregivers of these kids.
Outreach is done in the category of food, clothing, assistive devices, scholarships and job placements for these children.We held a fun filled morning of art on 21 June 2014 called Paint a Pixel4u2.It was hosted by Usha Seejaram- a Joburg based artist who recently did the backdrop painting for Mandela's funeral. Under her guidance both the kids and participants painted a breathtaking masterpiece. Below is her statement regarding the Painting.
Artist statement: Bonsai tree with Care4u2
Usha Seejarim
When asked to create an activity for the Care4u2 respite event, I proposed a collective and participatory art making process as opposed to individual small artworks made by the participants. Thus, a structure was designed and created to facilitate a project where all the children and volunteers participated in a collective process of a guided artwork. Each participant literally has a hand in the work. They simply followed a “colour by number system” to create this 4-piece artwork. The process was lots of fun and engaged the participants in a stimulating and creative way, where they literally got their hands dirty and felt part of a bigger picture. At the end of the day, when the 4 parts were assembled and viewed from a distance, the image of a bonsai tree held in a hand was revealed. At this point, for the participant, the abstract takes on a recognisable form. A single mark is read in the context of a larger narrative and a wonderful sense of belonging and contribution ensues. The magic of this image was made tangible.
The participatory artwork produced depicts an image of a bonsai tree, which for me is an ideal metaphor for a special being whose inherent beauty is expressed abound when nurtured. This artwork speaks about support, beauty, respect, caring, nurturing, and about an approach that is gentle and loving.
