I have just added another video to my video blog [email protected] ( but this link doesn't work!!!!)
Unfortunately neither does this site does support video links to Youtube.
To view go to the video blog through my other web site: www.annshaw.net
It's called "Bark in the Park" and deals with cloning ….
The exhibition closed in Swansea with over 700 people signing the Visitors Book. It seems it was a cathartic experience for many with lots of hugs, tears and kisses as whole families visited it to not only find past members of their families and to piece together this missing part of their own heritage but also to find closure.
"The Children of Craig-y-nos" exhibition will end this Sunday, September 7th.
It's been up for two and a half months and has proved to be very popular. An added bonus is that we have had one former nurse from the hospital invigilating every Friday and Saturday and this gave a personal touch, especially for ex-patients wanting to talk about their experiences. Also, some ex-patients helped out too.
BBC Radio Wales carried a half hour programme last Sunday on the "History of TB in Wales". They interviewed several people from our project. I was asked initially to take part in the programme but it meant doing it through the Glasgow studio "down the line" and I thought it better to let the community speak for itself.
Those interviewed came over brilliantly.
Craig-y-nos Castle have been speaking to Dr Carole Reeves offering the castle for the book launch. Three possible dates in March have been pencilled it. The final decision has yet to be made.
Just heard that Swansea exhibition to be extended by another month due to popular demand.
Also, – this is incredible- Dr Reeves has been approached by a top London literary agency. Watch this space…..
The first major draft of the book ( my section ) is complete and I am taking a rest from it , giving the project a bit of breathing space, and returned to making some more internet films.
Uploaded to Youtube yesterday Stone Circle, made at last week's Pittenween Arts Festival.
It is clear that having ex-patients or a former staff member in attendance at the exhibition adds greatly to the whole experience.
I am having very good reports back of audience participation not only from the local community from young schoolchildren to their grandparents but also the many foreigners who are visiting Swansea.
This week Pam Hamer , an ex-child patient from the late 1940s said she never stopped talking to people all day.
They were fascinated to be able to speak to someone about the photographic exhibition.
One of Pamela's stories is that she woke up one night on the castle balcony, where the children slept outdoors all year round, to find a rat in her bed.
She screamed, and screamed and the night nurse said:
"It is only Joey, the pet rat come to say good-night to you!"
Ann Shaw is an artist/writer based in Scotland working in new media. As a journalist she campaigned and wrote about many social and medical issues. She is a feminist and founder member of Falkirk Womens Aid, active in the trades union movement and former member of National Union of Journalists Equality Working Party, and founder member of Forth Valley Open Studios.
