Precious Leaves: Exhibition

Work in progress at Carleton Day Centre

I've been working on projects with the Wednesday Art Group at Carleton Day Centre for a number of years now and they're one of my favourite groups to work with. This group (which is a partnership project between Prism Arts and Carlisle Day Services) is comprised of adults with profound disabilities and their support staff I'm always inspired by the enthusiasm and hard work of this group. Over time their confidence and skills have developed hugely so it's always exciting going in and hearing their ideas.

Using water soluble fabric and small pieces of sheer fabrics to make 'sandwiches'

Using water soluble fabric and small pieces of sheer fabrics to make 'sandwiches'

Using water soluble fabric and small pieces of sheer fabrics to make 'sandwiches'

Over the past year they've been working with another of Prism Arts artist on some clay work. They used leaves to make impressions on the clay and then used these leaves to make decorative plaques and bowls. The group is very inspired by the natural world and in particular the wildlife and landscape of Cumbria.

Adding machine embroidery

Machine embroidery 

Dissolving the water soluble fabric

I was particularly impressed with the bowls and for the block of textiles work I was running with the group asked if they'd like to develop this work using machine embroidery and water soluble fabric. They were keen on this idea so we worked with a combination of sheer fabrics, water soluble fabric and embroidery to create a series of delicate bowls. This gave the group a chance to develop their existing skills as well as trying something new. One of the things I love about the bowls is how they change depending on the light, the shadows they cast are almost as beautiful as the bowls themselves.

Forming the bowl shape

Finished bowls

Finished bowl

A couple of the group then wanted to develop the bowl idea in more substantial fabrics and using hand stitch. We used felt (one person used handmade felt from a previous project and another used commercial felt) as a base and experimented with applying sheer fabric over the top and using a simple cut and wrap technique to form the shape of the bowls. They were then embellished with hand stitching. The bowls clearly relate to the smaller bowls whilst having a different character.

Applique and hand embroidery on felt

Applique and hand embroidery on felt

Applique and hand embroidery on felt

The group have exhibited their work a number of times for various projects, for example they have been part of Prism Arts C-Art exhibitions, have had a show at Carleton Day Centre (where they are based) and were part of a project with Tullie House, The Wetlands Trust and Prism Arts. Way back last April when we were planning what the group would do for the year it was very clear that exhibiting their work was a very important aspect of the project. I looked at different venues and approached Carlisle Archives who were happy to work with us.

Clay work on display at Carlisle Archive Centre

Work on display at Carlisle Archive Centre

Textile work on display at Carlisle Archive Centre

Previously when the group have exhibited the artists working with them have installed the work but showing at the archives gave the group the opportunity to come down and install the work themselves, an important development for them. We have used two of the archives display cases as the work on show is mostly 3D. Having the work in proper glass cases draws attention to and shows the value of the work created. We called the exhibition 'Precious Leaves' as the work created has a jewel like, precious quality and was inspired by leaves! The work is on show until the end of March so if you're in Carlisle please do pop into the archive centre and have a look. The group are already busy planning their next project!

Textile work on display at Carlisle Archive Centre

Beautiful shadows

The Seven Stories: Response Work

Wild Carlisle by Carleton Day Centre Art Group, 2016

One of the big projects I was involved with for Prism Arts last year was the Seven Stories project. We hung the main exhibition in Carlisle Library in November last year and then at the beginning of this year we went back to the groups we'd worked with to create response work to the exhibition. I went back to the Carleton Art Group and had a great time working with them to create their response piece. 

Design

Felt making

Felt making

I've worked with this group for nearly five years now and we know each other well and this means that there is a lot of trust and understanding. My role has developed from more of a teaching role to more of a mentoring role. Through the work myself and other artists have done with the group they have developed in both confidence and skill and are able to lead their own projects much more. Seeing this development is really exciting and it's great to be part of. When I go in to work with this group I'm always excited to hear their ideas and see how far they've come. 

Felt making

Felt making

Felt making

Having created 'The Book of Carlisle' for the Seven Stories project the group were keen to carry on exploring some of the ideas they'd been looking at. Seeing the work alongside that of the other participants at Carlisle Library helped the group realise how important environment, place and nature is to them.

3D Felt making

3D Felt making

3D Felt making

3D Felt making

This led the group to decide to further explore felt making, a technique we have worked with on several projects, and to work with a theme of animals in the environment. The group created a collection of 3D felt animals and a series of flat felt environments for the animals to live in. These elements were then brought together in a form that echoed the shape of the book they'd created. The new work has been added in to the exhibition in the library and will be on display until the end of April.

Making rabbits

Making rabbits

Making rabbits

As a group they are becoming skilled at creating individual elements that they then combine together to create a unified single installation. I really like this way of working as it means each individual is able to develop their particular interests and skills but are also still part of something bigger. I love seeing all the different elements come together and seeing how they inspire and support each other. The group are at a really interesting stage because although I still feed in ideas and make suggestions the main drive comes from them and they have the confidence and experience now to say what they want to do and how. 

Exhibition View

Exhibition View

Exhibition View

Exhibition View

One member of the group in particular has come on in leaps and bounds and being part of this is very rewarding. For this project she had a very clear idea of what she wanted to make (rabbits!) and with minimal guidance and help from me she worked really hard to create a beautiful and quirky set of characters that I would really like to kidnap. I'm working with the group again later in the year and am really excited about what they'll choose to explore.

Rabbits!

Rabbits!

Rabbits!

Rabbits!

No Borders Exhibition

Exhibition View

Over the past few years as part of my work with Prism Arts I've been working with the No Borders group, a group of adults with profound disabilities who all attend Carleton Day Centre. It's been interesting, exciting and gratifying to see the group develop over time, to see their skill and confidence grow and to be part of this enthusiastic group who are always up for trying new things and pushing their boundaries.

'The British Army' Clay figures

'The British Army'

'The British Army'

Over the past few weeks I've been working with the group to put together an exhibition of their work from the past year. This has involved much discussion about what work should be included, how it should be displayed and what 'feel' they wanted the exhibition to have. It also involved a lot of preparation, mounting, finishing and general tidying up. The exhibition took place in their work space and was a great opportunity for the group to show everyone what they've achieved. The exhibition included prints, textile pieces, clay work and a sound piece.

'People Paint Print' displayed on perspex

'People Paint Print' (detail)

Prints on fabric, displayed on perspex

The group had some really interesting ideas for displaying the work, I particularly like the use of the big perspex sheets for showing work in the windows. Having the light coming through gives a totally different effect to if the pieces had been conventionally mounted and also makes good use of space! Other work was more traditionally displayed to show off the quality of the pieces, we wanted to create a really polished and professional show and I think we achieved this.

Thread Wrapped Branches

'Magic Tree'

'Sea Swirls' Print on fabric

One of the projects that the group has worked on over the past year was a beautiful sound-scape with artist Mark Newport. The group put this together with a slide show of images taken during their sessions which gives a real feel of how the group works and shows that the work is all theirs. We had this playing throughout the exhibition which helped create a really nice atmosphere and gave visitors and insight into how the group operates.

'Tree Colours' Thread wrapped card

Detail of 'Tree Colours'

Exhibition view

Exhibition view