22 News THE VC GALLERY held
a Celtic Knot workshop on Wednesday (Feb 1) funded by project leader PLANED, so people of all generations could come to socialise for the afternoon and express themselves through art. With a friendly atmosphere and
a smile to greet you at the door, the VC Gallery, which stands for Veterans and the Community, is a drop in centre on High Street in Haverfordwest for veterans, but also helps various groups of people within the community through art engagement. The Gallery is a huge part of
the community, and helps people with mental health problems such as depression and veterans with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but also helps new mothers, people with learning disabilities, autism, and the socially excluded who have nowhere else to go. Founder of the organisation,
Barry John MBE, served in the armed forces for 24 years, and set up the organisation by himself when he left. Since then, Barry has helped thousands of people. Mr John said: “Every Wednesday
we have a community art group that’s cross-generational, which involves lonely and socially isolated people. “We try to create a hub where we
Tamsin Mathias
Milford Haven Reporter
tamsin.mathias@
pembrokeshire-herald.com
can socialise and be creative, which is part of our pathway to inspire. We want to bring a wide range of Welsh art to the projects, and to be diverse. “We’ve talked about historical
Welsh artists and Welsh landscapes, and we want to be emotive with our art, which is why today we are looking at celtic and trial knots, as they have strong, intricate lines and patterns. “We also can deliver some of the
subject history along with its artistic intent.” People of all ages and abilities
attended the workshop, along with 93-year-old Irene and her neighbour, Carol. Irene said: "The workshops give
me company and gives me a chance to learn new things. It's lovely!" She added: "If it weren't for
Carol, I wouldn't go anywhere or see anyone." Next week, the gallery will be
hosting a show called 'Compulsion to Paint' on February 8, which showcases the fantastic work of Steve Portwood. This is to coincide with Bi-Polar Awareness Month, occurring this February, and demonstrates the struggle he has
Celtic knots: Teaching generations young and old about art
been through with his mental health. Speaking to The Herald, Mr
Portwood said: "I suffer with bi-polar and have done since I left the army. My work is a way of expressing how I feel and how I see bi-polar, and I've tried to incorporate other people's feelings and how they see it in their mind." Some of Steve's work will also
be going on display at a show at Bro Cerwen later this month in aid of bi- polar awareness, and Steve hopes that his work will resonate with people who feel like same way. "I hope it will help people with
the emotions they are having," he said.
Speaking about the gallery itself,
Steve said: "You can come in here in any mood and speak to Barry. The gallery has picked me up when I'm thinking I'm worthless and can't achieve anything, and when I use my art to express myself, it highlights the things that I can achieve.I feel like I've accomplished something and done something productive rather than go with the negaivity." For more information, you can
visit their website or Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/thevcgallery
Barry John MBE and Steve Portwood: Showcasing dramatic symbolic paintings
THE HERALD FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10 2017
Follow us on Twitter @pembsherald
Workshop regulars: 93-year-old Irene and her neighbour, Carol
HOUSEHOLDERS in
Pembrokeshire are being offered a £5 discount if they sign up to the annual garden waste collection service online. Pembrokeshire County Council
is once again offering fortnightly (subscription only) garden waste collections using wheeled bins. The service will operate
fortnightly from February 27, 2017 until December 1, 2017 inclusive. The cost per subscription for 2017 is £48 (including the bin) – but online
customers are being offered a reduced rate of £43 per subscription. A key benefit of the service is that
waste is taken for composting, which is more environmentally friendly than sending it to landfill. Other advantages include the fact that it is convenient and easy to use. To subscribe or renew to the
garden waste service, please view
www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/ wasteandrecycling and click on ‘Garden Waste’. Customers who sign up for the
service by direct debit are also eligible for the discount. Other ways to dispose of your garden waste include: · Using a home compost bin – the
County Council can provide one of these free of charge if you need one. Please call 01437 764551 for more details. · Taking your garden waste to your
closest Civic Amenity and Recycling Centre where you can dispose of it free of charge and ensure it is turned into compost.
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