Artists got creative to help people with disabilities

Young pupil Megan with her Textile Art Challenge piece in aid of Canine PartnersFROM doggy draft excluders to collages and masterpieces by talented school children – a huge celebration of art will help people with disabilities.

Canine Partners’ Textile Art Challenge exhibition has gone on show at the Oxmarket Centre of Arts in Chichester.

The exhibition will raise thousands which will help the charity continue its work training amazing assistance dogs in West Sussex which transform the lives of people with disabilities.

The event, which was curated by Dr Sharon-Michi Kusunoki, executive director of art company Surrealism and the Arts, has already raised nearly £800 but it is set to raise even more as work is sold at the show which is open to the public until Sunday April 30.

It comes after the charity challenged people to stick, stitch and create a special masterpiece using part of a pack of 25 scraps of fabric.

More than 100 people purchased packs and took part, creating imaginative works of art including collages, wall-hangings, cushions, dolls and paintings which have gone on display alongside work by established artists including Cas Holmes, Maureen Brigden, Maria Pulley, Annie Flitcroft and Heather Lowe.

Among the participants were schoolchildren from West Dean Primary School who created not one but three stunning pieces of art.

And 13-year-old Megan Stodd from Fishbourne created a comfortable quilted dog blanket inspired by the charity’s amazing assistance dogs that can carry out a range of everyday tasks including opening doors, dressing and undressing a person and loading and unloading a washing machine.

The year nine student from Bishop Luffa School said: “I saw a leaflet about it and I told my mum I wanted to do it so we did a project each.

“I wanted to do it because it’s fun and I like sewing. It’s good because I’m helping lots of people by taking part.

“At school we have been doing quilting. As this is an assistance dog charity I decided to do a dog blanket. I put wadding in it to make it more comfortable.”

Canine Partners’ community fundraiser, Jenny Dwyer-Ward said: “Participation in the challenge has been fantastic. There are some really lovely pieces.

“It’s wonderful to see the work of acclaimed artists and makers alongside that of all of our challenge participants.”

Everyone is welcome to visit the exhibition which is open to the public from 10am-4.30pm until Sunday April 30.

For more information call Jenny Dwyer-Ward on 01730 716102, email jennyd@caninepartners.org.uk or visit caninepartners.org.uk/textileartchallenge.

Share this page