Creative Journaling Challenge
View the journals HERE
In this online exhibition, we are excited, to be able to present a representative group of 26 of these wonderful journals for you to enjoy.
The Creative Journal Challenge was developed to foster daily creative practice in the challenge participants as a tool for health and recovery, and as an antidote to the stresses brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 and 2021.
The act of engaging in goal-oriented, repetitive sensory processes involved in activities like knitting, sewing, ceramics and woodworking has been scientifically proven to reduce stress and anxiety and contribute to improved wellbeing. (Tahsin & Davidson 2018, Craftfullness, Quercus).
The Creative Journal Challenge was part of DESIGN Canberra presents NURTURE in 2021. Every day in November participants responded to a creative prompt word around the theme of Transformation. Participants used various techniques in their journals including, collage, digital image making, drawing, painting, and stitching. Participants also shared their journal entries through social media, creating an impromptu creative community and providing a glimpse into people’s creative lives in Canberra.
All participants in this challenge also had the opportunity to enter our competition, be included in this online exhibition and have the chance to win a $2000 prize. Our judging panel was Virginia Rigney, Senior Curator of Visual Arts, Canberra Museum and Gallery; Ann McMahon, Public Programs Officer, Belconnen Arts Centre and Bernie Slater, Visual Arts at Canberra Institute of Technology.
The judging panel were very impressed with the quality of the entries and “amazed at how much the artists could achieve in one month” They loved the diversity of approach employed by different artists and the innovative use of materials that was evident in the journals.
The decision on the winner was however unanimous, Laura Canty’s beautiful journal was selected as the winner.
The judges commented that every page of Laura’s journal was a complete work of art. It was innovative, showed skill with materials was beautifully resolved.
We warmly congratulate Laura!
The Judges also selected five runners up and those journals were created by:
Julie Ryder
Krystelle Watts
Olivia Carroll
Louise Ray
Elaine Camlin
IMAGE: Laura Canty, Bloom, 2021 (Winner)