Wolverhampton exhibition showcases artworks of people in care
Now 55, she said she came up with the idea for an art exhibition following research for books she has published about her experiences of growing up in care."I was fostered at three months, adopted at 18 months," she explained. "Nobody ever asked me how I felt about being fostered or adopted, how I was feeling at the time."People with similar experiences got in touch to tell her they did not feel supported either. It led her to realise "more mental health support and better understanding" was still needed.She launched the foundation 16 months ago to provide courses, therapy and regular meet-ups for children and families as well as adults still carrying trauma."We've supported so many families and it's just been wonderful," she said.
Ms Vickers said many people she met told her they had never been to a gallery, theatre or museum, with people who had experienced foster care particularly impacted."They don't have the stability to have a local art gallery or a museum they might visit on a regular basis," she said. "It's a huge loss in people's lives.Seeing contributors visiting their displayed artworks had been heart-warming, she said."Just to see their faces when they see something that they've done and experience that they didn't think was accessible to them, its just a joy."
The exhibition, which includes paintings of celebrities, biological family reunion photos and a drawing of a McDonald's meal, was officially opened by Wolverhampton's mayor, councillor Craig Collingswood, on Saturday.Ms Vickers hopes it will give people a "better, rounded understanding of how care-experienced minds work"."They're just like everybody else... we're not some alien race," she said. "Really all they need is a Happy Meal and to have a little pet with them and play football."I wished I'd have had something like this when I was younger, it would have made a world of difference."
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