Vale Lawrence Atley OAM

Lawrence Atley OAM was diagnosed with Parkinson's in the 1990's while working as an architect. He lived with the condition for 20 years, sadly passing away this year. His daughters Lisa and Celia have gifted two paintings in his honour.

It was Fight Parkinson’s: 27 for Parkinson’s challenge that inspired Lawrence to paint. Lisa and Celia tell his story:

“In 2020, we were faced with the reality of moving Mum and Dad to an Aged Care facility. As they did, Victoria went into hard lockdowns and Dad felt very locked up. We saw the 27-day Parkinson’s challenge and suggested to Dad he could walk around the home with a different sign every day. It really lifted his spirits.

When the challenge came around again in 2021, Dad was very excited but with further decline of his walking he said he couldn’t meet the challenge, So, we looked for something he could do seated and decided we would buy canvasses for Dad to paint 27 paintings.

We didn’t have a plan and we weren’t sure he could do it, but he always threw himself into things and certainly did with this project. At the age of 82, Dad became obsessed. We started calling him the crazy artist. Whenever we would call, Mum would say Dad’s painting!

The nursing home set up an area so he could paint with drop sheets and a table with all his paints. It was a total mess, we loved it! Every time we saw him, he was covered in paint, his wheelchair was covered in paint.

Painting kept Dad gong in 2021/22. He was in a wheelchair almost permanently. Being able to paint was not just the creative aspect but was a purpose and a place to go that was his.

At the start, his art seemed more precise and real, then he became very abstract. His painting looks very random, but we sometime watched him and he would stare at it for a long time and add a very precise sweep or dab of paint telling us what it was for.

Dad not only painted 27 paintings that month, but he finished with a magnificent large artwork which as a family we cherish beyond anything now – it’s a very large 1.5 metre-high canvas and has what Dad said were 3 wise men riding horses. It’s beautiful.

The works donated were done on number three and 16 of the challenge.

No 3 is called Self-portrait with Crazy hair. Dad was fun and playful, loved a dress up or a party. This is really evident to our family in this painting but also it’s a simple painting which was how he started with many of them.

No 16 is called The Dragons Day. This was an interesting painting that developed over several sessions. It’s more layered and reflects Dad’s visions with Parkinson’s.

We know Dad would be absolutely thrilled and humbled to be a part of this exhibition."

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