World-renowned New York street artist ELLE collaborated with young people from Orygen’s headspace centre at Werribee earlier this month to produce an artwork that was auctioned to raise funds for the centre’s art program.
The artwork sold for $15,000 at a fundraiser held by the James Marcon Foundation, a non-profit organisation that embraces art therapy to aid the recovery of children and young people affected by mental ill-health.
Liz Burgat, Orygen’s director of clinical programs, said the Marcon Foundation had been a valued supporter of Orygen for several years. “We have a strong long-standing relationship with the foundation and we’re incredibly grateful for the support they continue to give us in memory of their son James,’’ Ms Burgat said.
“The generosity of the James Marcon Foundation has enabled us to run our art group at headspace Werribee. The group is now into its third year, thanks to the foundation’s fundraising.”
Ms Burgat said to give clients and young people from headspace Werribee the opportunity to work with, and learn from, an artist such as ELLE is yet another gift from the foundation.
“ELLE is considered one of the top touring street artists in the world and has created some of the most memorable walls in all street art.
“We know that creating art is a wonderful thing to be able to do, it’s not only creative it’s therapeutic. For our young people to be able to create with ELLE is what many artists only dream about,” Ms Burgat said.
“We thank the James Marcon Foundation for their continued commitment to fostering recovery through art.”