SALA Artist - Lisa Taranto

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Artist Comments

FMS Butterfly: A purple, Fibromyalgia butterfly is surrounded by a smiling lion-faced sun and an array of bright, rainbow-like colours. It gives a sense of positivity and courage to go on living life to the best of our capacity, despite living with Fibromyalgia, which is a common co-morbidity of ME/CFS.

Air Clay Characters: Art Therapy temporarily provides some natural relief from my unrelenting pain and fatigue. Using bright, bold colours brings out raw and undiscovered creativity in me. My mood improves, making me smile, distracting me from my ailments and promoting a positive attitude towards life- hour by hour.

Teddy Bear Behind a Window: This photo has a double meaning. I survived the extensive Covid-19 lockdown, like all of us, however the challenging isolation was hard to cope with. However, there is a continuous lockdown for me. With Fibromyalgia and other chronic, multiple ailments- including having a low-immune system, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and ME/CFS, it is difficult to leave the comfort and security of my home (even though I would like to more often). On better days, when my symptoms are less disabling, I do leave home for short periods of time though with a family member for support and wearing a face-mask. Throughout the year my outings are mostly Medical Appointments. I feel vulnerable and socially isolated throughout the year. It makes me sad, anxious, depressed- with a low mood generally. 

4. Move, Move, Move with Groove Poem: The Tortoise’s character represents a person living with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue. The Tortoise participates in gentle exercise, walking the race, rather than running the race- cleverly pacing himself and taking regular breaks. The message is to do a single task at your own pace, when you are feeling okay. If you’re not okay, have a rest. It all depends on your forever-changing physical and mental capacity and health status on any given day. It is then, that you will slowly, but surely achieve your goal and not be stressed and anxious doing so. Rushing an activity causes stress, exacerbating your symptoms. As well, going outside in the sunlight for ten minutes a day naturally warms up your body and can help relieve aches and pains.

5. Spread Your Wings and Learn to Fly: My pain never goes, so I live with it. Sometimes it is bearable, but most times it’s not. That’s the reality of living in Chronic Pain from multiple conditions, but especially with Fibromyalgia. Having a cry, filling a bucket of tears, when my pain is on the higher scale of the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of pain is a common occurrence. In this story, the Butterfly (a symbol of hope) appears when I was at my worst mentally and physically with immense hopelessness. However, the Butterfly’s wings of freedom analogy, providing support and hopefulness creates mood-lifting pain reduction, so much so that I can finally smile! 

Description of the artwork

FMS Butterfly: A large impressionist-type painting of a butterfly in shade of purple and pink takes up a third of the canvas space and is surrounded on the top by gold stenciled smiling suns and the capital letters FMS standing for fibromyalgia syndrome. On the bottom is a foreground strip which is made up of green, pink, purple, red, and yellow paint splashes dripping down the page. 

Air Clay Characters: 33 small characters made of air-drying clay are sitting on a wooden board on a white satin tablecloth with a relief of flowers and leaves. The characters are each unique, some with cartoon-like faces. There is an ant, a ladybug, a bee, a tiny red flower on a tiny blue base, a large red flower in a black base, a white and blue fantasy character sitting up like a person, a white and blue bear-type character, a brown mouse with cheese, a pizza with cheese, meatballs and blue sprinkles, a multicoloured lettuce shape, a pink flower with yellow pistils and a yellow base, a pink mouse-type character, an intricate white flower in a tiny terracotta pot, four tiny ducks in different yellows, a pink and blue rose, a brown dog with floppy ears and a giant bone, an orange muppet-like cartoon character with stars in her hair, a green bear, a very white person with blue hair and a beachball on a beach towel with a giant blue crab, a dark blue character with lots of blue hair, a brown teddy bear with shining eyes and rosy cheeks, another dark blue character with huge eyes on the top of his head, and an orange blob with green and blue peacock-like feathers coming out of his head.

Teddy Bear Behind a Window:

A typical Australian suburban orange brick house with ivory gutters and a focus on the dark brown sliding window which has a dark brown and beige roller cover on it. Behind the reflection in the window is a lace curtain with round flowers and a white teddy bear dressed up in jeans, a leather belt with silver buckle, a plaid men's button up shirt with white collar and blue and white striped tie. He is also wearing a navy-blue winter coat with a lighter blue satin liner. His white furry paws are sticking out of the jacket and his black beady eyes are shining. He almost has a smile on his furry face.  There is also an alarm notice sticker in the bottom corner of the window.

Move, Move, Move with Groove Poem:

This is a poem presented in a standard word processing format surrounded with yellow stars as a border. At the end are icons of a turtle and a rabbit. This is the text:

"MOVE, MOVE, MOVE WITH GROOVE-

(IN A RACE…IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU WIN OR LOSE!)

Said the Hare to the Tortoise “Let’s have a race.”
“I don’t think so Hare. I cannot handle the pace for a race.” replied Tortoise.
Hare replied “C’mon mate, give it a go! You can go really slow. It doesn’t matter if you’re not a pocket rocket like me.”
Tortoise replied “I’m in pain all over. Maybe if I move I will recover. When and where shall we meet?”.
“In five minutes, at the corner of the street. The race ends two streets away- near Mary May’s.” explained Hare.
The Hare and the Tortoise met. On the count of three, the race began.
The Hare was moving his arms and legs in prowess, while the Tortoise’s body moved slowly- showing pain and muscular stress.
“Look, it’s a race. However, I’ll go ahead of you at my own pace. It’s meant to be fun- not a matter of run, run, run.” explained Hare. 
The Hare sped off, as fast as lightning.
“Okay” agreed tortoise.
Tortoise was plodding along like an old slug, feeling perplexed and puzzled.
He thought to himself “Where is Hare? I don’t see him anywhere. Anyway, this race is just for fun. At least, I am getting some sun. The warmth helps me with my pains. I’m feeling better, loosening up and feeling the gains."
Some time passed and Hare suddenly appeared on the track- in his pyjamas, carrying a water bottle and a snack. Tortoise curiously investigated the matter, asking Hare “What are you doing in your pyjamas?”.
Hare, the egotist, sarcastically stated, smirking, “As slow as you are, I know you won’t go too far, so I just had a sleep and a little peep, to see how the race is going now. Carry on. Meet me at the finish line. Take a lot of time, don’t rush! Bye, bye, bye”.
Hearing this, Tortoise felt a surge of energy. His batteries were charged 100%.
“I have to show Hare that slow and steady wins the race. There is no room for complacency!” defiantly stated Tortoise.
Tortoise’s legs were moving in synchronization. He was only one metre from the finish line.
“I’m going fine, fine, fine- nearing the finish line!” Tortoise chanted.
Meanwhile, Hare dropped his water bottle and his snack. He stopped to pick them up.
“Hurrah!” exclaimed Tortoise with glee. I finally finished the race, slowly and steadily. But, where is Hare? Oh, he’s still behind there (the racecourse). It looks like he has had a scare.”
Hare finally passed the finish line, with his face touching the floor.
All Hare could say to Tortoise was “Tortoise you won the race, even at the slowest pace.”
Tortoise stated “Anyway, I didn’t care if I won or lost the race. It was about doing things at my own pace. I had fun! I am happy I participated. That’s all! I feel so much better now! Let’s go to Mary May’s, have a cup of tea, toast with jam and butter and relax in front of the TV.”
Funnily enough, Hare wasn’t himself. He nodded his head, sheepishly and in agreement with Tortoise and he was speechless! Hmmm…I wonder why?"
By Lisa Taranto 

Spread Your Wings and Learn to Fly:

This is a poem presented in a standard word processing format surrounded with icons of butterflies, including two butterflies around the title. At the end the author's name is surrounded by two smiley face icons.

SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND LEARN TO FLY  
One day, I was having a cry. A butterfly came by and landed on my hand. 
The butterfly said “Hello Lisa. Why are you crying? Are you in pain?”.
I replied “Hello Butterfly. Yes, I’m in pain. All I want to do is cry.”
“Oh Lisa, don’t despair. I’ll give you advice. Just spread your wings and learn to fly.” Butterfly replied.
I asked “Excuse me Butterfly, but I have no wings. How am I meant to fly?”.
“It’s an analogy. You don’t have to have wings like me. Wings are a symbol of freedom. Now, think of something you like or love.” Butterfly suggested.
I replied “Okay”.
Butterfly asked “Can you tell me what it is now?”.
After thinking, I replied “I like smiling. Even when I’m sad, smiling in the mirror cheers me up!”.
“Well, just smile in the mirror. Doing this allows you to spread your wings and learn to fly. This will give you the freedom you desire.” Replied Butterfly
I replied, with a smile, “Thanks Butterfly. I will try it. You’re a great friend!”.
Butterfly suggested to me “Give it a go! Try substituting “wings” with whatever makes you happy to give you the freedom you desire. Be positive. You will be okay. All the best, Lisa. Take care.”
I smiled and so did my heart. Suddenly, with a quick flutter, Butterfly disappeared."         
By Lisa Taranto

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