A blank space will soon be filled with colour and connection in the heart of Gunnedah, but it will be up to the North West region’s teens to decide what it will look like.
The Conadilly Canvas, Art That Speaks Up, is an initiative to see the wall on Hennessy Real Estate updated with a mural that starts a conversation about mental health.
A competition inviting people aged 12-18 years old to submit their art has started, with winning works to be created into the mural.
It came about when Ben Hennessy had a heart-to-heart with 12-year-old daughter Chela. It was about how young people and children go through mental health challenges.
“[This generation] is going through the challenge of being so socially connected all the time,” he said.
“Connectivity is great, but as you see in the city areas, you can be surrounded by people and still feel chronically alone.”
Ben had wanted to do something with the blank wall outside of Hennessy Real Estate. That was when the idea to create an art competition was born.
Art such as drawing, painting, digital or even a TikTok is encouraged for submission with the themes of love, connection, hope and resilience.
Mural artist Katie Louise Brigg will create a design with winners based on their submissions and host a workshop.
Hennessy Real Estate is also partnering with Keira Gifford from Raw Confetti for content creation and web artworks along with Lifeline.
They have some sponsors on board and the real estate will be donating $500 from each sale until the end of October.
“A bit of a community team effort and obviously we’ll be hoping to get some grants to help cover the cost of it,” he said.
There will also be a section in remembrance of people who lost their battle with mental health and a QR code for helplines.
“We’re really passionate,” Ben said. “It’s a bit of an emotionally fuelled project.
“Most of us parents have got kids and teens. We know what they’re going through – when you can get them to talk to you about it.
“It is probably easier to talk peer-to-peer for some of them. Hence why we’re trying to create this community conversation around mental health.
“Happiness isn’t something that you reach and go, ‘Right, you beauty’.
“It’s a constant journey of growth, but growth isn’t always fun and sometimes it does take you through some difficult times.”
“There’s plenty of people that care. We’re lucky we’re in such a beautifully caring community.”
When asked what he would say to those who may not feel confident to enter their work, Ben recalled how it was only as an adult he had the confidence to be involved in stage productions.
“I remember sitting in the audience watching the people on the stage when at school and there was a voice in my head saying, ‘Ben you could be doing this’,” he said.
“Maybe I wasn’t pushed into it, maybe I wasn’t brave enough but it is a regret that I had.
“I guess all I’d say to those people is don’t just sit in the audience and watch. Take your chance.
“Put your artwork together, drawing, painting, creation, put your video together to tell your story because your story does matter.”
Entries will be open until Friday, September 19, in which the winners will be selected. Each artwork will have the option to give permission for posting on social media.
