Dyslexia no barrier to pursuit of dreams

Deborah Rabey, left, aged 11, and Kendra Diprose, aged nine, help renowned dyslexic British sculptor MacKenzie Thorpe paint his sculpture 'Life'. Herald picture / Greg Bowker

The tormented childhood of a dyslexic British artist is now his motivation to stop other children suffering the same fate.

Internationally acclaimed artist Mackenzie Thorpe is in New Zealand to auction one of his sculptures, called "life", to increase awareness of dyslexia and to raise money for research into the condition.

Local dyslexic children added their own splashes of colour to Mr Thorpe's sculpture yesterday.

Mr Thorpe said he was often teased and misunderstood because he was dyslexic, and now used his talent raise funds to help those afflicted by the condition.

"People told me I was thick and stupid and it made me a very sad person. I carry it with me now...it was pretty bleak for me.I don't want anyone else to feel like that. These kids are painting this and it's going to be in an exhibition tomorrow night. It's about raising esteem so they don't go to the places I went to."

Davis Dyslexia Association pacific director Catherine Churton said the programme has a unique approach and was very successful.

"They walk in with with the weight of the world on their little shoulders and bounce out the door feeling good about themselves. It's about self-esteem."

Ms Churton is also dyslexic and said working alongside such a talented painter would show the children that they have the potential to be successful in any field they choose.

The Davis Dyslexia correction programme aims to help children read, write and spell using images and pictures as mental tools to overcome the confusion words and symbols could create.

Ten-year old Amy Rabey was excited and inspired to be working beside the famous painter.

The money raised from selling the painted sculpture will go towards providing scholarships for the Davis dyslexia corrections programme and creating a New Zealand Davis dyslexic centre.

Cookie Time owner and managing trustee of Cookie Munchers Charitable Trust Guy Pope-Mayell said the artwork would be auctioned for $50,000 or sold to the highest bidder.

Mr Pope-Mayell said there was a huge shortage of funds and understanding in the area."It's the hidden disability. The symptoms can be confused with so many things...the child can be seen to be lazy or a day dreamer, but they are all just symptoms of dyslexia."

Ten-year old Rachel Palma attended the Davis dyslexia correction programme and said learning was easier and she was now more confident.

Mr Thorpe's sculpture will be auctioned at Fishers Fine Art Gallery tonight.

FACTS ABOUT DYSLEXIA

* Study results show that 7.7 per cent of New Zealand adults have a learning disability.

* 80 per cent of adults with specific reading learning disability performed below the minimum level of proficiency needed in a knowledge-based society.

Source: 2003 International Adult Literacy Survey