Mind Over Matter

SEA's main production this year was staged during Mental Health week last October.  This cross art form production turned the whole of Southern Edge Arts into the inside of a youth brain and involved students from puppetry, circus, aerial arts, street acrobatics and drama.  The audience was guided, physically and artistically through the thoughts, memories and experiences of the mind of a young person.  Moving away from the topics of bullying and depression, that are usually portrayed in exploration of mental health affecting youth, this production focused on dreams, hopes and memories of monsters under the bed. The conclusion drew attention to how performance arts involves a practice of mindfulness and connection to others.  
The set was constructed using meters of finger knitting, paper and stockings stuffed with paper 'thoughts' created during a weekend workshop for members and their families, and included scaffolding, a slack line and aerials rigged at eye level.
The performance was included as part of Amity Health's 'Create It' exhibition.  This was a week long awareness raising campaign of how the arts contributes positively to the community's mental health.
Photos: Check out our picture gallery here on our website.

Car Body Project

Through out term 4 this year, SEA artist Serena McLauchlan has been working with young people from NASHS, through the Noongar Kids in Schools Program, to create an art installation piece using a car body as the canvas.  
A partnership with the Great Southern Employment Development Commission allowed SEA to place an artist with boys from Clontarf, who used the art project to explore the dangers of distracted drivers.
The success of the project was showcased during the Christmas Pageant, with the car body being hoisted onto a truck as a pageant float, sending the road safety message to audiences at the pageant.