12 September 14

art at the park

whats it like to be an artist working with the over 60's, creating an sustainable arts community at the pavilion cafe in Didsbury park Manchester?

Start date 10/9/2014 end date 10/3/2016

Week 1.

I have been employed by Didsbury good neighbors to facilitate an arts session once a week at the pavilion cafe in didsbury park Manchester. I have an 18 month contract, my aims are to engage 50 over 60’s and 10 volunteers in this time and to leave behind me a sustainable arts community.

I don’t know any of these people that are coming for an arts session at the pavilion cafe, and they don’t know me………

It’s scary.

First session 10-12 its very busy, everyone has a lot to say. Including me.

In attendance are 12

Cindy , Clare , Ann with out an e , José , Carol , Jennifer , Dot , Ruth , Carol , Neil , Ruth  and Francis .

 

I introduce myself (Traë England-Shortt artist facilitator for 13years, exhibit my own work from time to time, I am a visual artist that works in many mediums, my last piece shown was at the furiously mad exhibition in the Peoples history Museum was a performance piece. And through my art I like to play investigate and heal myself) and have a chat about why they are here what they want from the group. I show them some of my work I know they are skeptic (is it really art!) but I do know they are interested in the stories and reasons for making the pieces. Initially I took in my art work to display my aim was to get the group to help me to curate a little show. I found that just by having the pieces on a table was enough to engage them in conversations about art what they like what they would like to experiment with and what they can say and address using their art.

I wanted to make sure they understand is that this is not my group it’s theirs. I’m not here to push them to make art like mine; it is their choice i’m there to provide support for them in their own practice. The group were happy to hear this some were a little unsure and worried about where they would start.

After lots of chat and coffees we concluded that there would be 2 sessions in the day it would be on a drop in basis but there would be some structure. There would always be a group activity at the beginning of each session ‘Making marks to music’ to help us all loosen up and feel more relaxed. After this there would be a brief available for those who needed ideas and during the 2 hours people would be able to book a one to one if they wished.

I’m thinking of making a talking stick for group discussions as it can get very noisy if everyone is talking over each other and some people do have hearing problems so I would imagine it would be hard to keep up. The majority of the group are interested in water colours or drawing but one lady has asked me to look into air drying clay unfortunately this is quite dusty and she has dust allergies so I am going to encourage her to start with plastacine and maybe move no to fimo or papier-mâché.

Next weeks brief will be birds lets see what happens.

 

 

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20 May 15

PSYCHIC STRING

Artists in residence 15

Everyone looked quite miserable this morning so I thought we could have some fun. I’m off on my holls next week so wont be seeing the group for 2 weeks so I thought I would give them some psychic string fun.  Everyone had a partner with whom they were linked via a pink psychic string and blue tack positioned at the third eye. One of the partners drew and the other received the image. Some people managed to receive images and others did not, if nothing else it made the group laugh and they had a chance to think of a lovely image for 5 minutes. After this they did not look miserable any more.

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26 April 15

How do you put feelings into an Artwork?

WEEK 27

artists in attendance 13

Oooo I’m making them think again!

The artists brought in their memory objects and we just told each other our stories for the whole session. It was great for the group to get to know each other and talk about other things rather than art. It has brought them closer together yet again.

The next session the members started to review their memories and study them in a visual way, some are making collage some are pencil drawing but non as yet are thinking about putting the memory in. how will they create the essence of a memory the feelings the thoughts in a visual form. That’s going to make them think. A couple of new artists are struggling with the concept of the group they have told me they just want to learn to draw, that’s ok I said but I cant teach drawing as such you just have to find an object and draw it practice and a few pointers makes you a drawer. I took one of the new artists into the park to find something to draw, as I purposely don’t have books so people can’t copy. We found some old thick ivy branches and brought them back. After a bit of explaining that you can draw bits of it and change things if you think it would be a better picture, she produced an excellent first try. I think she just needs some confidence building (don’t we all?)

My other new member has macular degeneration so she finds it difficult to see what she id drawing. I have given her some white board markers and she is trying her best. Maybe I shall get her to model her memory in clay, if she brings an object she could have a go at modelling it from using her touch. Next week I shall suggest it and see what she says.

 

Next week more memory and how to tackle getting feeling into an artwork

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14 April 15

MEMORY

WEEK 26

Artists in attendance 11

This week the artists start a new project, Memory.

We started the session by making a mind map, mapping out one particular memory and seeing where it lead us. The artists then chose one particular memory that came from their map and were asked to respond to it creatively. This is sometimes hard as many people feel they cannot think up their own ideas but since the abstract project I can now remind them of all the process they went to get to their final pieces. After this reminder they all managed to get on and produce something, not masterpieces but a start. There is a misconception in our group that you can produce a finished piece in 2 hours, yet again I remind them it took 2 months to produce the paintings for the abstract exhibition. I think its important for the artists to think for themselves many groups that I have come across for the older generation just tell them what to do, in fact only last week I saw a group that had been given printed out sheets and were asked to colour them in. eeeek how patronising!!!!

For next week I have asked the group to bring in an object that has memories attached to it, this will give the individual a chance to share their memory with the rest of the group, hopefully solidifying the group even more.

 

 

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07 April 15

SYRINGES STICKS AND PAINT

WEEK 25

Artists attending 11

After our exhibition I decided we needed to do art for arts sake, for no other reason than fun! Today I have given the group syringes, sticks, rubber gloves, big decorating brushes and paint. I set up the floor with massive sheets of paper and set chairs around it. The group had to make their own painting implements as the brush handles weren’t long enough to reach some people filled rubber gloves with paint and cut holes in them, some squirted the paper and each other with syringes! And some made the most fantastic brush handles with the sticks. Everyone had lots of fun sloshing paint around. The equipment provided made it impossible to add fine detail so the group had to be free with their strokes and patterns.

Next week back to it!

Next project is about memory

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01 April 15

THE FINALLE OF ABSTRACT

WEEK 24

The exhibition is up and the guests are here the place is buzzing. We have canapes and bucks fizz. The artists are smiling, conversing with the public and feeling very proud of themselves. Its time for my speech. Here goes

 

Hello and thank you all for coming.

I’m Trae and I’m the artist in residence here at the holt pavilion café and I facilitate the Wednesday art group “the pavilion artists”.

Whilst I have a captive audience I just wanted to tell you a bit about why this arts project is different from most and why it is so valuable to our community.

When sue asked me to come and work here I was given free reign, so I started to think about my arts practice and what it gave to me.  For me art is a place to ask questions and have questions answered a place to feel happy, relaxed, confidant and most importantly to have fun.  I do it for no other reason than the enjoyment of it.  If occasionally I sell something then that’s bonus!

I wanted to help the group find in themselves these same results, to take away the pressure and stress and to do art for arts sake.  The artists in this group have not only an art group to come to they have a network of friends, a supportive community and a place to talk and laugh. The group are constantly challenged by myself to push their ideas and not to worry about the out come.

All the works displayed are a crescendo of a 3 months abstract project. Have a look around wonder, ask questions, delve into you imaginations re visit memories and enjoy this gift from us to you.

today the artists have sold 5 paintings from the 14 displayed. what a boost it is to sell a painting.

next week group work with sticks and syringes

 

 

 

 

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