Focus Counselling Services stage an exhibition of their work at the Edinburgh Gallery in City Hall.

With about ten artists displaying more than 25 works, the mixed media show is entitled `Our Strength and Hope' and features watercolours, acrylic, air brush, pencil, sculpture, and cedar carving.

Located in the `back of town' on Union Street, FOCUS provides an `open door' counselling and support service for people addicted to alcohol and drugs. In helping them to understand their disease, FOCUS assists clients to return to good health and to re-enter the mainstream of society. It is estimated that a minimum of 20 people walk through that `open door' every day.

The group's venture into the world of art is not an entirely new venture: just a couple of weeks ago, FOCUS walked off with five First Prizes in the annual Bermuda Day Parade. Their float, called `Breaking the Chains of Addiction' was designed and built by one of the clients, `Starlight', assisted by many of his friends at FOCUS.

"One of the reasons we wanted to do this show,'' explained FOCUS executive director Sandy Butterfield, "was because I really do feel that so many of our clients are talented and have a lot to offer. Also, it helps dispel the myth that addicts are useless people. I think this show will prove they are quite the reverse! They have so much to offer. It also assists in the recovery process, helping them to find their true selves.'' In organising the show, FOCUS (operating under the umbrella of The Council Partners Charitable Trust) has also been able to call on the help of Heidi Smith, database manager for the Trust. "I plan to pursue my Masters degree in art therapy, and soon after I started working here I was told that FOCUS wanted to get a show together. It has such a strong connection with what I hope to do -- to bring into peoples' lives, the healing power of art.'' With a degree in fine arts, Ms Smith said that the Masters is psychology-based, conducted on the assumption of a solid background in art practice.

Emphasising that this show has not been planned as a form of therapy, Ms Smith added, "It does, however, help some people to discover that they have a creative side. What impresses me so much about the show is that they came up with the idea all by themselves and when you listen to them talk about art -- several have said it's a good way of `turning off' their troubles for a while -- it becomes obvious that art is a wonderful tool for people going through recovery.'' Last week, at FOCUS, pictures and sculptures were already taking up a lot of room as clients started to bring in completed work for hanging in the Society of Arts gallery. James (FOCUS uses only first names to protect clients' anonymity), who is displaying some impressive cedarwork, said, "I think the show will send a positive message to the Bermuda public, let them know that I do have other aspirations, goals and hobbies other than hanging around the streets using drugs. I always had goals and aspirations,'' he added, "but they have been stifled due to drug and alcohol abuse.'' Picking up one of his pieces, a beautifully crafted pot-pourri box with a swivel-top lid decorated with an embossed flower, James continued, "It really has helped me realise that this could be an alternative to being on the streets using drugs! I'd like to thank FOCUS and Council Partners for making this show a reality.'' Janet, who concentrates on cross-stitch samplers and traditional kites which she makes for retail outlets, said that she was at her "happiest'' when she was doing her work. "Sometimes I stand back and look at what I've done and I sort of marvel -- can't believe I've done it! Other people express themselves by writing or speaking about themselves, or composing a song, but I express things by stitching. I also express myself in the way a make a kite -- in every one I cut `hearts' in the tassels to represent that I love what I'm doing. But it's also a message of love to the person who gets the kite.'' In an animated discussion on the value of the art show, Eric, who has not entered any work, said: "From the pieces I have seen, I get a sense of self-worth. The one that particularly takes me (`Andre's kite, airbrushed with an image of Bob Marley) is a real piece of art -- and the rest of the pieces -- make me feel I may have a hidden talent that hasn't come out yet! So it's good to see people being able to do this. And I congratulate FOCUS for helping us to display our talents -- whatever they are.'' Joey, who has produced a set of pencil portraits, said: "I had never really taken my talent for drawing into consideration at all. But this has given me an opportunity to realise that I do have some gifts and, hopefully, that this art show could open up some other doors in my life. As far as FOCUS is concerned, I a feel a lot of gratitude to the people who run this place and I'd like to thank them for helping me find myself.'' `FOCUS-ing' on artistic talent to other people -- but you can build it, paint it, or send a poem. That's why art is so beautiful and that's what art is to me -- sending a message, getting away from things, and it puts you in a world of meditation. It's like music, when people sing -- they send a message, and artwork is the same: it sends a message to the next person.'' One of the most talked-about pictures is Lee's pencil portrait of the late Jerry Griffiths, co-founder of FOCUS. As Mrs. Butterfield said, "It's so like him -- it brings back his presence here.'' Several people made the same comment about Joey's portrait of Wallace Black Elk, a native Lakota Elder and spiritual leader who recently visited FOCUS to talk of the teachings of the North American Lakota Tribe. "We called him `Grandpa','' recalls Mrs. Butterfield, "and when Joey brought that portrait in, it was as if Grandpa had walked back in the room. So we look at that picture and can almost hear him talking as he did to us about spirituality and respect for the universe.'' Ms Smith said that, from her first visit to FOCUS, she sensed the feeling of refuge and safety. "I love going there. I've found it interesting to see that, with the 12-step programme, they delve so deep into themselves that they don't just deal with the bad stuff -- they also discover really positive things about themselves and, for me, that reinforces the fact that recovery is a very deep process.'' Another recovering `non-artist' commented, "FOCUS gives us direction, educates people with chemical dependencies about their illness and the ways in which we can live our lives with having to turn to alcohol and drugs. The open-door policy gives every individual help in recovering -- whatever financial, social or ethnic standing you happen to have in the community.'' Another client added, "When we come in here our lives are so broken, we don't know one day from another. But here, we are given a chance to look at that brokenness, pain and destruction, to realise that we've done this to ourselves. We go from that pit of hell into this safe place. It's a real chance to get back on terms with society, to get our lives back together.

And this is just part of what can happen if we just surrender, and start to enjoy the joys that come with the freedom of being free of drugs. This art show is an important part of that.'' `Our Strength and Hope' opens in the Edinburgh Gallery at City Hall with a reception on Friday, June 5 from 5.30 to 7.30 p.m. and again on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The public are welcome to attend.