If Lucy Kennedy could win, or even exhibit at the World Of Wearable (WOW) Art Awards Show in New Zealand, it would mean the last 20 years of her life were actually worthwhile.
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For years the 66-year-old textile artist has had a dream to create a wearable sculpture for the international competition, not for a trophy or the $165,000 prize money, but to give her life purpose.
The former school teacher lost the life she had at age 47 when she was struck down by a mystery virus which brought on myalgic encephalomyelitis (colloquially known as chronic fatigue syndrome).
“It would make all that I've gone through – and all my family’s gone through – having this catastrophic illness worthwhile. It would mean I haven't disappeared into the fog of this illness, that I am still here,” Mrs Kennedy said.
“That another part of me has been able to be used and grow and serve some purpose in the world … even to go and show [my work] would mean a lot to me too.”
For the first six years after being diagnosed Mrs Kennedy was left with no energy to even walk beyond her front door.
Now, thanks to an experimental drug trial, she says she can “operate at about 45 per cent of normal”.
Over the years she has filled her time with learning and creating textile art, though usually makes pieces the size of her palm as anything bigger would require too much effort.
“Textile art became my reason to have things to look forward to,” Mrs Kennedy said.
“Having a studio means I can put a bit of space between my health situation and me, and my life at home and me and my work,” she said.
The current project she’s embarking on is bigger than anything she’s every done before - a full body garment - but Mrs Kennedy is confident it will be finished in time to enter it into the 2018 WOW Art Awards competition.