Connected is a collaborative artwork facilitated by Adelaide artist Laura Wills with contributions from patients, families and staff that form the Adolescent Ward community at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

With support from the WCH Foundation Arts in Health program, artist Laura Wills and Play Therapist Kylie will invite participants to provide photos, drawings and imagery that will be tiled together to create an artwork that provides a ‘sense of belonging’ to the Adolescent Ward space.

Laura will hold a series of workshops with participants that will stimulate and inspire their creativity to celebrate a special place in nature. Inspired by Laura’s ‘Community Tree Portrait’ shown in the 2022 Neoteric exhibition, the final artwork will create a connection to nature and the outside world, improving the social and emotional wellbeing of patients.

A little more about artist Laura Wills:
Based in Tarntanya Adelaide on Kaurna Land, Laura works with an expanded approach to her practice. She often collaborates with other artists in the creation of site-responsive and participatory works, primarily working across the discipline of drawing in various contexts such as pastel and digital drawing into maps, drawing in installation and projected light drawing for live performances. Wills is interested in creating works that are communicative in nature and connect us to the environment.

View more of Laura’s work here.

Mayflies might have only one day to live, but they enjoy every moment, embrace every opportunity and have very fulfilling lives.

We’d like to acknowledge the significant impact of Rebecca May’s compassion and idea to create the Mayfly Room at the WCH.

Rebecca, a Registered Nurse at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) recognised the need to provide families experiencing the loss of a baby with a private, home-like, non-clinical environment for them to spend time together throughout the palliative and end of life care process.