Pain eases through art

Barbara Bew with her latest work

A Rotorua nurse who was beaten within an inch of her life and recovered to repay kindnesses with her art has raised over $1350 for charity. Local businesses also conducted raffles.

On Friday night in Rotorua, 15 of Barbara Bew's canvasses were sold, the proceeds of which have been donated to Women's Refuge.

The owners of the business Gamble and Stone, which stocks renewed and re-appointed furniture and odds and ends, made available its premises for Barbara's exhibition.

'They stayed open so people could buy off the shop floor any item they sold; Ange and Ben the owners donated 10 per cent to the fundraiser,” says Barbara.

Local singers donated their time, and a emcee detailed the significance of the exhibition.
Barbara spoke of details of her horrific ordeal, which were highlighted in an article in Rotorua Now in September.

The Rotorua Now article was laminated and used for display on Friday night.

Barbara Bew … art has helped her recuperate from a vicious beating.

More exhibitions seem imminent, as Barbara has been approached to conduct two art exhibitions in 2020 – at Whakarewarewa Maori Village and at the Anglican Church in Morrinsville.

Clearly, her art, her cause and her altruism, apart from her personal purgatory, has gravitas.

Barbara Bew was recovering from a hysterectomy and severe post-operative setbacks several years ago when she was subject to a violent assault.

Her abdomen was ripped when, in an unconscious state, she was dashed to the floor of her bedroom by her then fiancé.

Recovering from a bombardment of punches, Barbara fled with her two pet dogs to an empty flat, sent on her way with verbal abuse which continued for some time.

Earlier this year, Barbara's tale was recorded at some harrowing length and morbid detail in Kai Tiaki Nursing NZ.

At the time of her travails, Barbara's panacea were her two dogs Soul and Poppy.

She found little solace in the justice system.

Her assailant - her intended, got off scot free. Barbara's pains continued.

Soon, recovery at least partially eased rejection.

In earlier days a ceramicist, Barbara collected herself and turned to art.

And it has paid off.

Her seemingly rhythmical figurines contribution to the art world initially attracted buyers locally and then, to her surprise if not unconscionable delight, sales to a New York purchaser.

From there, local interest mushroomed.

Speed, and the mind of surrealist which radiates, is an essential element in the volume of works Barbara has produced.

As much as her paintings continue to draw those with an artistic eye, the messages accompanying her works are profound reminders of dire moments, an emotional abyss from which it seems she may never really recover.

For the moment, it's art; for the moment, friendship; for the moment, Women's Refuge.

The body on which she came to rely on in the immediate aftermath of her near cataclysmic ordeal is starting to benefit from the sales of her endeavours.

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