Re-Cover Project - Week 3

Seacroft Hospital - Male psychiatry unit

A group of 9 men with 4 staff joined us in the communal activity room this week, some returning from previous sessions full to the brim with new ideas. Others who were new to the plaster sculpting process eagerly joined us as Van and I laid the table with our objects and materials; clay, plaster of paris, pots, brushes, small objects such as shells, keys and coins.

This week we introduced a few extra elements; coloured food dye, formed plastic packaging and silicone cake moulds. We got very playful (and a bit messy!) with the materials as a calm and focused energy filled the room and the men thought up new ideas and approaches using the plaster and colour dye. There were lots of surprises as we experimented with the different materials, some we thought looked like tasty Indian sweets.

One man made a wonderful cast of a small teddy bear, which we wrapped in cling film to protect it. He was so pleased with his result that he decided to give it away to a friend as a Christmas present.

For those who have developed some skills with us over the last few weeks, we used the minty fresh smelling material alginate to create full casts of hands. This process is always met with “Wows!” as we remove the alginate to reveal the hand beneath. 

We even made some casts of feet using modroc plaster bandage, another sculpting material that is really interesting to use and dries quite quickly.  The men enjoyed having a plaster shoe made to fit, saying

“It’s so calming and therapeutic”

“For a moment I can forget all my worries”.

Bryony Pritchard and Van Nong