Both Ferrybank groups are up and running and I am starting to get quite exited about the eventual outcomes. We will possibly be exhibiting in Christchurch Cathedral in the heart of Waterford in December, the venue that we are using for inspiration! The venue of Aoife and Strongbows wedding. This group is like a meeting of the UN we have so many nationalities, it is fantastic and this exhibition will present collaborative work on the theme of Christchurch Cathedral. As far as possible the people in the workshops are designing the finished pieces from start to finish, with as little direction from me as I can get away with.
The idea is that the participants have total ownership of the work. They are not just doing what I want them to do as in many of these Community Arts Projects. Obviously as the group did not form themselves some ground lines had to be drawn before we began. I choose the venue for research and we are limited to the media that we have access to, but after that the only real direction they are given is inspirational and practical. These are the kind of discussions we have, and discussion is an essential element of Community Education. Questions such as ‘does it have to of use?’. What is art? Where will it be seen? Will it fit? Does everyone feel listened to in the planning and preparation?
Any way time will tell and materials have to gathered and tests done. Some of the group are new and also have to do some skill learning, they will be busy!
Borris Active retirement are doing six weeks of acrylic painting. Week one we did glazes
Week two working with a palette knife
Simple exercises to give ideas!
