Today was the last of my series of my community workshops in Barton.
In the blurb describing my practice I listed loads of things I work with, and on that list I said 'idiots'. Well on this particular job the idiots label could be won by the local press!
I wanted these pupils efforts triumphed in an article, following on from one already printed which had started this project. The Headteacher was worried that his school would be putting themselves at risk of derision by the local paper, as this had happened to him on several occasions before. I said that 'Fusion' the organisation who were commissioning me had a full time PR person on their staff and we would put together a press release highlighting the input by school pupils on this project. I wanted to big these kids up and make them feel they were achieving things. As it turns out Fusion had had projects possibly deliberatly ridiculed and misrepresented by the paper as well, suggesting they were encouraging squatting or something and taking bizzare angles on their activities. (I had this 'Freddie Star ate my hamster' vision of reporting style.) Their advise was to keep a low profile and may be send a press release at the end including all the community groups involved when all the park and equipment had been installed.
How sad is this story.
What does it reflect….a general confusion over what is art?…. that public money is not used in the way the paper want?
The result is that bit of badley needed social capital I wanted to put in place is reduced.
I have been working in my workshop, today tidying these pupils mosaics, and seeing them all laid on my workbench I feel that their lives and aspirations are encapsulated in their images.
I am touched by their ability to stick to the task and a football pitch particularly struck a chord. I know this motif represents so much to that boy and is a symbol of his play time and he struggled and persevered to make it. I was listening to the Arsenal V Hull FA Cup coverage on the radio while I finished it and I hope he is pleased with it. I was pleased with the final result, his mosaic looks good as well.
I work with x2 year five class in this school. It is a very different experience compared with my Stoke on Trent school. The attitude of the staff is more possitve. The kids mob me, I hav'nt had to carry anything, they see me coming and just help bring all my tools,tiles, papers and crates.
This afternoon we tried to finish our mosaics, but they were running out of steam. They had carried on with their images while I was not there (keen). But now they had really finished their designs and needed to fill in the backgrounds….this was a tedious task for them as the fun was seeping away. But they have worked hard.
But the point of the post is to say its great to work with a school with enthusiastic staff. I feel that I cant let these kids down now, or sell them short. I spoke with the head teacher about writing a press release by the pupils, as they are looking forward to this new public play ground so much its theirs now.
I can barely walk. I am as stiff as a plank. I played 5 aside football on Monday night at the youth club. I am crippled..be it temporary though.
I dont play football often may once every 2-3 years. I played hard and got stuck in. It was actually quite fun and the kids at the club enjoyed it as well. Afterwards I had em drawing and making mosaics for a milli second. Next week I might get a little more out of them.
Before youth club I was in the primary school that was OK I left most of my tools, tiles and stuff there so they can work on their indivdual mosaics during the week.
Before the school I was with the mothers and toddlers. That is the strangest workshop. I dont mean that in a derogitory way, just a little weird. There was a dad there this time he was completly blathered, stinking of spirits at about 10.45am ish. Told me he was unable to hold a pencil even, as he thought he had broken his hand hitting another guy in the face! 'Its looking swolen and even a little blue, have you been to the A+E?
'No.. it will be OK'
What kind of dad will this guy be?
I had a long conversation with this young woman while she was making a flower in mosaic. We were talking about my own children and my male experiences of Home Births, sleepless nights and pushing buggies around the block at 5am in the morning to try and get my son off to sleep. I asked her where was her child was..'Oh no I am a student on day release studying Health and Social care'……. 'Oh… where's the collage then?…..Banbury the one in Oxford had no places left..Really is it a popular course in Banbury as well then?………..I talk about hats, knitting and sing 'I'm the king of the swingers the jungle VIP'. from Jungle book.
Its a jungle in their alright.
'The youth club' is the last session on Mondays in Barton for me.
This youth club I have worked in before and one member of staff is still there after 3-4 years. This situation is one of those where you just say to yourself professional pride will make me get a result here. It will be small, but any result is a huge step.
The session went like this. Say hi, eat toast, small talk, introduce background to the project, play pool, show my photos of previous projects, small talk, draw with two guys for 5 mins. Then watch kids kick dustbins, throw pool balls around and spit on the pool table and act like complete tubes.
The session was abandoned slightly before the end. Then the most senior member of staff asked me to stay for the session evaluation! I said OK.
What did I learn…one kid's doctor told him he had ADHD and the pool ball thrower had a collection of pictures of expensive super cars. I also learnt alot of paperwork is generated after youth club sessions and remembered that often the best journeys are the slow ones!
