Romsey artist Debbie Daks is continuing her connection with Ukraine through a new cultural children’s mural project.
Ms Daks has worked closely with the Association of Ukrainians in Victoria and, in particular, young people from Ukraine.
Following the recent launch of the book Many Colours of Home, a montage of thoughts, art, poetry and recipes created by displaced Ukrainian families in Melbourne, Daks is now preparing for children’s ‘multi-medium montage mural’ workshops.
With the help of Sofiia Nykolaichuk, Andrii Filipchuck from Ivano-Frankivsk, Cathy Clements and Naomi Walsby, Birmingham, and others, this project has been created to give children an opportunity to unify through art.
The first art workshop in Ukraine, will be held in Ivano-Frankivsk where the children will be invited to select from the creations collected, to be part of a mural, which will be left for them to enjoy and reflect on.
The Ivano-Frankivsk children, in turn, will create small works that will be taken to the UK for their workshops, and some pieces, back to Australia to complete a mural where it all began.
This recent project follows Ms Daks’ art fundraising efforts for Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine in 2024.
Okhmatdyt is Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital and suffered major damage in a war air strike in 2024.
Ms Daks visited the hospital during a trip to the country last year where she was invited to host art workshops with the children.
Now she is encouraging Macedon Ranges to get creative to again lift the spirits of the children in their care.
ART WORKSHOP
Ms Daks is hosting a Kids Creative Card Workshop where people of all ages can create get well art cards for patients there. It will be held at the Romsey Co-op on Friday, June 26, from 2.30pm to 5pm.
The workshop is free and includes all supplies. Children must be accompanied by a parent.
To register, contact the Romsey Neighbourhood House, or visit the website: romseynh.corsizio.com