| Halo Art Project 2011 |
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This progamme was inspired by emerging artist Justin Slater who has spent too many years behind bars. Justin walked into Halo in June 2009 ago asking if we could help him get of heroine and take care of his art work. It wasn't long before the Halo team had Justin thinking about new possibilities for his life and developing plans that lead him to positive and proactive action. Unfortunately, for many young people the past creeps up on them and while they are making positive changes in their lives they must pay the price for offences committed in a past life where they struggled to survive in a world full of drugs and despair. That past caught up with Justin and he is now at Acacia Prison serving 2 years, eligible for parole in October 2010.
Justin's story"My name is Justin Glen Slater, I am 29 years old and I grew up in Kelmscott, South of Perth Western Australia. As a youngster, I spent a lot of time with my Father, Murray James Slater. He was a brilliant painter who understood the creativity of art in all it's forms and aspects. My Father helped me to understand how to seize the beauty and depth of the things that I could see and express them in paint. When I paint it take me to a special place in my head and my heart where I find inner peace. I connect with the land on every level and feel that I have to share this beauty with all people regardless of their heritage or cultural background." "There is a story within each of my paintings and each painting captures a different view and mood at that exact moment in time. When I paint, it could be something from the past or a thought from the future. It excites me when someone understands the feelings and emotion in one of my paintings from what they see. I feel a connection and a sense of acceptance with people when they understand my art." "When I was only 15 years old my Father passed away. He left with me the happy memories of when we would go out camping and on long bush walks. He would show me the way the sun glistened on the water and the way the trees cast their shadows depending on the time of day it was. He was a good man and I miss him a great deal. Something inside me tells me to take over my Father's insight and continue his dreams, except that his dreams are now my dreams also.
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