Residents Art Exhibition Put Mayor In The Picture

Residents of a care home have staged an exhibition of their artwork and it’s had the thumbs up from Wrexham’s Mayor. Cllr David Griffiths was at Pendine Park this recently to enjoy the artistic efforts of over 70 of the regulars at the homes art classes and he was impressed.

It was all part of Social Care Week which spotlights the work done at care homes across Wales and the opportunities open to their residents and staff.Cllr Griffiths said after touring Pendine Park: “I’m mightily impressed with them and with what they’ve done.To see the variety of the work they have on display is excellent and it shows the skills they have and have been able to develop here. Social care is an important part of life today and we all have our parts to play and this home is playing an excellent role.”

The exhibition was organised by Pendine Park’s artist in residence, Sarah Edwards, who has been working there for 13 years.She said: “We work with about 70 people both in groups and one-on-one and we encourage people to join in and enjoy art even if they can’t physically participate. That means visiting galleries and exhibitions and we regularly go to the Walker and Tate Galleries in Liverpool, the Lady Leverhulme Gallery and the Lowry Gallery. For those who do take part there are four classes a week and they are very popular and we feel it adds to their lives and we get very positive feedback from the residents.”

The exhibition was part of a programme of activities to mark Social Care Week at Pendine Park Wrexham care homes and included a Garden Party at Gwern Alyn and a Strawberry Fayre at Hillbury. Pendine owner Mario Kreft added: “Social care is largely undervalued by society other than by the people who receive it and those affected by it, the families of residents."