Creativity: the true art of therapy

John R. Paterson 1947 - 1998

Exhibition at Glasgow School of Art

20 July - 28 Aug 2002. Open: Mon - Fri: 10am - 4.45, Sat: 10am - 3pm

John Paterson, whose parents still live in Bearsden, graduated from the Glasgow School of Art in 1983 and studied art therapy at the Goldsmith's College in London, and then, took up psychiatric nursing on his return to Argyll. He was a strong and vigorous man who had developed an eloquent and expressive skill in drawing and painting at the art school. He also had a healthy scepticism about the hype-driven art world and thought of his own creative work as primarily a private activity.

But from about 1993 he became aware of what was to become a gradual and relentless, but unexplained decline in his health. In an attempt to see what he could do with his talent before it was too late and despite the slow physical debilitation he painted full time for two years. However, by 1996 he could barely hold a brush in his hand and diagnosis was finally confirmed, John died at his home in 1998 from Motor Neurone Disease and Gillain Barre Syndrome.

There is tragedy in this story but there is also hope. About two years before he knew that he was going to die, John discovered a reason to exhibit his work publically, he founded The Dochas Fund, (dochas means "hope" in Gaelic) with the aim of raising money by selling reproductions of his paintings. The charity has done very well having raised over £80.000 since 1998.

This touring exhibition, curated by Peter Bevan, lecturer at the Glasgow School of Art is a retrospective of John's work from his last years at art school to 1996, and consists of over 60 works including chalk and ink life drawings, mixed media paintings of religious inspiration, gestural abstract works and lyrical Argyll landscapes. In spite of the terrible afflictions he suffered John's work is full of energy, colour, humour and the celebration of life, it is indeed full of hope and an inspiration to us all.

Also newly published to accompany the exhibition is a book about John's last, six traumatic years written by his wife Catherine and which includes an illustrated essay on his art by the curator. Proceeds from the sale of this book, prints and cards of the paintings all go to the Fund in support of research into these diseases and care of those afflicted.

Everyone will be welcomed to the exhibition.

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