Conversations in Colour - Final Session

During this last session, we all participated in a vocal warm up and then every single member of the group delivered one or more performances to the rest of the group.  Considering some women were unwilling to read out to a small group at the beginning of the project, that they were delivering spoken word performances by the end is an achievement that should not be undervalued.  And that isn’t even to mention the content, which was of a very high standard.  We were given strong imagery in group poetry exploring emotions and states of mind.  We heard about why the moon follows people around, how the giraffe got its long neck and about one woman’s love of chocolate.  We had fun throwing oranges at Paul McCartney and were transported back to a medieval battlefield.  There were laughs, whoops and much applause.  There was also cake, which was much appreciated by everyone!

    

  

These were Hayley’s thoughts on the readings:

It was amazing to hear everything you've done.  You’re all so talented.  It was all so good and I can’t believe how much variety there was.

And here’s what Milena had to say:

Today was the first time that I've heard women perform and read their work. It was very exciting and touching witnessing the power of their words and the strength of their voices. In a few short sessions they have outgrown their old cocoons and revealed themselves in splendour of their new multi-coloured attire.

It was extremely satisfying to work with this group, and I'm sure they will all continue to develop their artistic skills. After the reading we finished and cleared the space in the studio upstairs.

I cannot wait to see the exhibition, it will be brilliant!

I quite agree.  But what did the group think of the project?  Looking at their comments on the evaluation forms, they seemed to have benefitted a lot from the work undertaken over the last few weeks. 

They loved tie-dying and lino cutting.  One of them admitted to having been somewhat pessimistic about lino prints at first but she now wants to try the technique in future to make her life more interesting.  People liked creating new images both visually and in poetry.   They learnt to make a creative mess and different strategies for starting creative writing and found writing to be a great outlet.  They learnt to ‘write positive stuff’ and enjoyed working on their sketchbooks. Someone said she enjoyed the challenge.  Another said she had written her first poem in forty years.

Participants reported developing confidence in writing and performance (even though the evaluation forms were filled in just before the performance when nerves were bubbling away under the surface)!  They loved the supportive atmosphere and the variety of activities, one woman commenting that she found it very relaxing to be in a female-only group. 

And they are not going to leave it there.  One woman is going on to write stories for her grandchildren and create a new batik background as a basis for embroidery. Others talked about how they would use learnt techniques in other groups they attend.  Still others said they intended to incorporate these new ways of working in their own work.  One is hoping to exhibit with Arts and Minds.  They were all keen to develop their work in a similar project in future.

The session ended with women swapping numbers, and requesting copies of each others’ work.   Some of them even went for coffee afterwards.  We will miss the sanctuary of Thursday mornings but look forward to catching up with them and hopefully some of you blog readers on the 10^th July at the Open Door exhibition!

OPEN DOOR with Shantona

SESSION 10

It was the last session of our 10 weeks project today, what are we going to do on a Sunday we ask ourselves?

There were mixed emotions, there was the rush of completing our work, there was the excitement about animating our work, there was sadness about the project coming to an end and a happy thought about our work being part of the exhibition at Artlink on July 10^th.

As the list of tasks was long we all worked very hard to complete our final pieces, the canvases and the 3d creations we made in the form of a vase.  Those of us who were a little ahead got to do the animation with Rozi and at the end of the session had evaluations to complete too.

Here we are, showing each other how to use the animation rostrum stand.

It really helped to work in pairs, with one of us moving the objects, and the other taking a photo after each object was moved.

Over the weeks we  learnt about  Michael Brennand Wood and some fantastic new skills with Rozi & Musarat - felt making, embroidery, embellishing, learning the wax paper process, animation, how to use a zoetrope, how to put our work into animation and many others.  These skills will definitely come to use in our future work. 

OPEN DOOR with Shantona

Session 9

It’s nearly the end of the Open Door Project – where have the weeks gone?... It seems we started the project only a couple of weeks ago but it has been 8 weeks; they say time fly’s when you’re having fun and that’s exactly what we have been doing – Having Fun!

We started on our canvas pieces today – looking at the photographs we took of our vase in the previous week and having studied Michael Brennand Wood’s work it was time to create our own 2D pieces.

We had lots of materials to work with, we were also asked to bring 3 objects from home and everyone did very well in remembering to bring these.  There were all sorts of objects that people brought in, mobile case, earrings, bracelets, badges, different shaped rubbers and many more.  Musarat & Rozi brought lots in too, bottle tops, plastic coins, foam shapes, beads, buttons, wire, fabric and felt.

We all got a little excited after seeing the objects. We began by arranging these onto our canvas, the objects were then stuck down with a little blue tac so we could rearrange the shapes or add to the design if we wanted to next week.

It was fun creating different patterns; we are looking forward to completing the canvas next week and creating animation with the objects.

Conversations in Colour - Session 10

In this, our penultimate week, we finished typing up pieces that are going to be displayed at the exhibition on the 10^th July.  We practiced some voice exercises and our readings for the performance.  A treat is waiting for those who attend!  Between performances, we also chatted about how nerves are normal when it comes to public readings but how exhilarating the experience of sharing our words publicly can be.  

One participant told us the effect the sessions were having on her.  ‘I have started using words since this project began.  I’ve even finished my first full length story.’  And this is what strikes me as one of the biggest successes of Conversations in Colour – in addition to the group pieces, so many of the women have been taking what they have learnt away with them and writing breathtaking pieces at home.

Upstairs in the studio, the steam was rising from our efforts to finish everything on time!  Ironing, stencilling, printing and lino cutting, fabric felt tips and button sawing, embroidery and 

sequins gluing, there was no stopping us! 

We all wanted our carry bags to be the most authentic pieces, truly representing the beauty of our beings.  Let us show them what we are made of - with bags like these, the weight of the world will be as light as a feather!

Conversations in Colour - Session 9

These are some of the comments made by participants this week or in emails over the last week:

‘I’ve had so much support in these sessions.  I’ve felt free.’

‘It’s been amazing today.’

‘Since doing these sessions I have been thinking about words’. 

‘I cannot begin to put into words the effect these sessions are having on my life.’

  

Today Milena was taking a complex-sounding maths exam so we focussed entirely on words and voice.  We began with some exercises which helped us relax and some voice exercises which woke us up!  I asked why they thought I had elected to give them a particular exercise which involves reading pieces in different moods.  After several acute and intelligent answers – ‘to build our confidence’, ‘to bring emotion into our work’ – one group member said ‘because you want us to perform on the exhibition day.’  It produced a lot of laughter and a round of applause.  Sprung.   The truth is I do want them to read on 10^th July because what they have produced is original, moving and worth hearing and because I know the joy of walking away knowing you have read something you have created and it has been listened to and appreciated. 

An important step towards this was taken today as everyone present read something to the whole group.  We heard how the giraffe grew its long neck, group poetry performances and a striking piece on the theme of oppression and liberation that one of the participants had penned at home.   The group were supportive and – rightly – encouraging in their feedback.  Here is Sandra’s piece which fits into a triad of pieces on the same topic.

The Beatles were performing on a stage built over the Albert Dock, but something was awry.  The orange missed Paul McCartney by millimetres but, from my (admittedly distant and partially obscured) viewpoint, he seemed to make no reaction.  Possibly he had become, over the years, inured to random fruit or vegetable missiles.  Perhaps, as a famous vegetarian, he would simply collect all such items and create one of Linda’s renowned Goan curries.  I resolved to stay after the concert ended and observe matters closely.  It was thus, due to no more than idle speculation and a lamentable lack of companion, that I was to discover far more than I could possibly have anticipated. 

                                                                                                    

The concert continued.  I waited in a state of tension, taking some enjoyment from the masses’ reaction to the old songs, yet with my mind still musing. I still have no idea - at all - why this mission felt so imperative but I could no more have left without indulging this whimsical notion than I could have unfurled my pigeon wings and flown to the moon.

                                                                                                                                                   Sandra

I was delighted that the first person offering to perform was a woman who at the beginning had said she wouldn’t want to read out to the group.  How far we have all come in the last nine weeks!

After the readings some people headed for the quiet room to finish their stories inspired by questions while others peppered their writing with discussion about where they would like to go next with their writing and art.  Meanwhile I ran up and down stairs finding out which pieces of text everyone wanted framing for the exhibition.   I left struck by the enthusiasm, shared sense of purpose and creative freedom that had pervaded the session and looking forward to hearing the finished stories next week.  

Conversations in Colour - Session 8

The writing group did not take the story of why dogs sniff each others’ bottoms seriously but that was OK; they weren't supposed to.  Further activities were framed around questions posed by the group in our first session and added to today.  Categories explored included seasons and the sky, religion and education.  There were fun questions: ‘How did the giraffe get a long neck?’ and exasperated questions, ‘Why is it that the more you chase after something the more it eludes you?’  ‘Would someone please arrange a summer for us?’  There were even philosophical questions, ‘What if God was one of us?’ and ‘Why do the stars shine?’ 

After we had amassed a big pile of questions, we moved around the table and discussed our favourites, finally settling on one each with which to work.  Then we gathered the ingredients together for a story – the question and answer we would be working towards, the setting, main characters and situation.  I was surprised at how quickly everyone worked, each person having made a start on their story by the end of the session and some even having finished!  With the first group we were treated to some comedy, ‘I would be a stand up comedian if I could stand up’ and an interesting discussion about dyslexia and ways to overcome difficulties associated with it.  In the second we were privileged to end with a reading of Samantha’s pieces – one set in medieval times and the other responding to the two questions, ‘Where have all the doors gone?’ and ‘Where have all the female gods gone?’  There was also a surprise appearance from Karen who came in sporting her gorgeous tie dye top.  It was to dye for!

Upstairs in the studio we were unravelling our tie-dyed pieces.  Some people were delighted by the results and some were dubious.  I explained that the pieces would look different after we had ironed them! And true to my word, by the time I ironed up the last bit, everyone was delighted by the results. What they didn’t know – the dyed cloth was just the background for further decoration either with fabric felt pens or stencilling, adding beads, buttons, sequins or appliqué.

Emma decorated her bag with wonderful words, and we were overwhelmed with the beauty of Karen’s top! It was a brilliant sunny day and the sound of laughter was infectious.

Becky Cherriman and Milena Dragic

Conversations In Colour - Session 7

This week our activities included photographing images to complement our writing, editing group poems, developing them into performances - which we filmed - and writing about chocolate and medieval England. But, as we creative writers say, show don’t tell!  So here is the group piece that some of the members worked on during the session and below it, a lovely story that sprang from the storytelling activity a few weeks ago.

Tiredness

A heavy ball, a bowling ball rolling along,

an airless room, no life,

old worn sheets that could do with changing,

the lumpy pillow gives no comfort,

a very heavy ball, a bowling ball slowly rolling along, 

dull, heavy, monotonous, too much to carry,

the slow stirring of porridge,

the right to be put out of my misery before I lose myself,

a very heavy ball, a bowling ball slowly slowly

rolling along a long long road.

Karrie, Elaine, Sandra, Sheila, Lynda

Short Story - untitled

A cool wind was blowing from the sea, warm and welcoming as it touched my skin. The warm air  made it comfortable enough for me to sit outside dressed in nothing but my pyjamas, looking out over the hillside, sipping my cup of tea.

I hadn’t been in Goa long but already the quiet peaceful silence that the place has instilled in me already was a huge contrast from my normal everyday city life.

I hadn’t ventured from my cabin since I arrived here 2 days ago as I felt so desperately tiered and needed to sleep off the flight. Looking our over the hillside I could see the beach was packed with activity. There were people dancing to a rhythmic beat , muffled laughter and the smells from the shacks selling foods of all kinds was making me hungry.

As I took a warm sip from my cup and felt the heat of my tea ebb away my thirst. I got to thinking how the people below me on the beach resembled ants hunting through a picnic hamper looking for tasty morsels to carry away and feast upon.

My stomach started to rumble and the smell of the food began to feel so enticing that I finished my cup of tea and headed off into the cabin to get dressed. I just had to wander down to the beach in search of company and a good meal.

The sun was setting in the sky but the lights along the beach illuminated the place like a football stadium. Entering the crowd I made my way towards one of the shacks selling food to wait my turn in the queue.

Emma Cravitz

Meanwhile in the visual art studio…….. 
The gloom of the February, oh sorry it was May, was soon dispelled by unwrapping of the tie-dyed items, hats, bags, sample clothes etc… 

Since the dyes are fixed by heat from the iron, soon we were discussing the ironing, or lack of it in our lives – hooray!  We remembered the previous generation of women who ironed everything, and how as  girls we were all apprentices into this obsolete activity, by starting on cotton hankies, then progressing on pillowcases, and the last but not least – the shirt!

Afterwards, Sarah cut little lino blocks and printed them on top of dyed material, and I explained that next week we are all going to decorate textiles further by printing, stencilling and adding buttons, beads and sequins.  What was particularly nice was the enjoyment that all participants felt at looking at so many different and vibrant pieces of work.