Daniel Drager, left, Tammy Keyte, Shannon Clark, Ben Chismall and Margaret Mohi with some of the photography work which was on display on
Friday. Margaret is holding one of the photos from the tribute to Brendan Perfect.
A poignant tribute was on display when a snapshot of the creativity present at Enrich Plus Te Awamutu opened to the public last Friday.
The organisation’s first photo exhibition, Looking Back on Autumn, featured the photography of Enrich artists.
Among about 30 photos was a stand set up to honour Brendan Perfect. He had been collecting photos for the exhibition, but died before it opened.
“His work speaks volumes about the amazing person Brendan was,” Enrich Plus Te Awamutu service lead Ngawai Hamblin told The News.
“Having his photos here is simply a way of us to honour him and say thank you for everything he was as he shared his life with us.”
Brendan’s mum, Sue Rabarts, said the exhibition was amazing.
The photographs were taken over the course of three months.
The organisation supports those with intellectual, physical or sensory disabilities.
Hamblin said Enrich Plus is involved in the annual IHC Art Awards, but staff thought the photography exhibition would be a fun way for photographic work to take centre stage.
She said the photography group studied everything from learning to hold the camera correctly and framing shots, to black and white photography and even selfies ahead of the exhibition.
The group framed their favourite shots with picture frames sourced from Te Awamutu op shops.
“Going from those initial learnings to what we now have on display just shows the amazing journey of progress we have been on. There’s such a wide range of photos represented here, it’s wonderful to see.”
In May, three artists from Enrich Plus’ Te Awamutu Supported Activities programme watched as Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan hung their latest painting in her newly decorated office.
Mayoral artwork: l-r Mayor Susan, Julie Tate, Kathleen Bayer, Deshan Walallavita. Photo: Enrich Group, Te Awamutu.
