Chelsea McWhinnie (29) & Olivia-Shay (4), winner of the Hope Hub ‘Positivity in Lockdown’ Art Competition!
“…I have taken the time during lockdown to reflect, rethink and refocus. I decided to take this negative experience for the world and because of my child turn it into a positive for us. Since even during the darkest of times children have a way of seeing the wonderful in all situations and remain optimistic for, their minds focus on the beauty in the world. For instance, the rain and this puddle, the enthusiasm my little girl had regarding going out into the rain to play made me smile with pure joy. The delight of a child being able to run in the rain, jump into puddles and be entirely free. This time has allowed me to see, that if we could remember that love of life, that imagination, the fun in the little things like kids do, instead of how much we invest ourselves into social media likes or fitting in with what society deems as ‘normal’, we could be much happier. It’s often said that life can be a reflection of your thoughts and if we change our thoughts to see the beauty in the little things in life, like children do, maybe we could change not only our lives but the lives of others too! Like Buddha said, ‘Since everything is a reflection of our minds, everything can be changed by our minds.’ I have taken a break from posting a lot on social media, along with doing more exercise and spending much more time just playing with my little girl, which is something I have realised is so important in life. Moments to cherish. So, this has been the most positive realisation I have ever had time to make. The photograph itself is not only art, but the meaning behind the photograph and how much thought it provoked is true art to me…”
Klara De Los Rios (8) came second overall!
“…This picture gives me hope because I have a tree outside where I live and looking at that tree every day brings me hope that this will be over soon. I felt especially hopeful in the spring when it blossomed, and more and more birds started to visit. Also, I love talking to my friends on Skype because I am not able to talk to them in person and it makes me happy. During lockdown, I have been trying to learn the ukulele and to solve the Rubix cube. I have also read ‘Little Women’ during lockdown with my mummy and it made me happy. I have really enjoyed doing all those things and that is why I included them in the picture. Another important part of the picture is the rainbow, I have drawn many rainbows during lockdown and I put one on my window as a sign of hope and to thank all the NHS workers, including my grandma who works at Ninewells Hospital and my auntie who is a nurse. For each colour of the rainbow, I used things that bring back nice memories or things that make me happy and proud that I live in Dundee, Scotland:
- Red – strawberries and raspberries – I love eating them in the summer,
- Orange – Dundee famous marmalade,
- Yellow – Sunny Dundee and the special Sunny Dundee facemasks,
- Green – caterpillar – there were many cool caterpillars done by kids to say thank you to the NHS workers and to stay positive,
- Blue – NHS superheroes,
- Purple – Scottish thistle and a magical purple heart tree.
Hope you like my description 😊…”
And third place went to Fiona Stewart (19)!
“…I’ve tried to make the most out of my time during lockdown and sometimes that’s doing work or trying to build skills where I can but I have enjoyed the time I have to myself to read again and fall in love with worlds only accessible from ink and paper…”
Our sincerest gratitude to Overgate Shopping Centre for supporting this uplifting project, and thanks to John Alexander, Leader of Dundee City Council for being a generous and fair-minded competition judge. And thank you to everyone who submitted an entry – your art and your stories are inspirational. Keep doing your art, telling your stories and sharing your amazing creativity because that is the very essence of hope.
