Mental Health and Well Being Project with Aspen Beacon Centre
Over six weeks I was given the opportunity to work with members from the Aspen Beacon Centre on a project which addresses mental health and wellbeing. The members discussed what mental wellbeing means to them. They also discussed what they believed the community perception is on numerous mental health issues. We hope to create a body of work which breaks down stigma surrounding mental health and allows the wider community to gain a better understanding of wellbeing.
We completed a series of self portraits using experimental drawing exercises; for example, trace your reflection, continuous line drawing, blind drawing, left hand and two hand drawings.
On week 2 we projected the acetate drawings to increase the scale.
We looked at the work of Van Gogh for inspiration. His drawings and paintings are made up of small expressive lines which describe facial contours. He used vibrant and contrasting colours to suggest light and dark tonal values.
Jim's self portrait shows a strong use of directional line to suggest facial contours. He used yellows and oranges for lighter areas and blues and greens for darker areas.
Gavin has used more subtle colours and lighter lines which is really interesting.
John has used a variety of short and long lines to describe the natural curves of his face and suggest different tones. It is so detailed, precise and absolutely successful!
For the next exercise we looked at Picasso's blue and rose periods. We discussed how cold and warm colours can suggest a mood in an artwork. The group split their self portraits in half and used warm colours for one half and cold colours for the other.
Next, the group split their portraits in half. One half represents what they see in the mirror whilst the other half represents what is going on in their mind.
We tried to represent feelings and emotions using colour and shape.
As a group we then discussed the 'tools' each person uses to improve wellbeing.
We came up with a list of ten top 'tools' and illustrated each one on paper.
We converted the drawings on paper into an imitation stained glass window. Each section shows a way of coping. The group artwork will be permanently hung in the Aspen Beacon Centre.
'Diversity in Northern Ireland' with Castlereagh Borough Council
For this project I worked with primary 5 in three schools; St Ita's Primary, Cregagh Primary and Millennium Primary School. Each class focused on different cultures in Northern Ireland and the art work they created is permanently displayed in Forestside Shopping Centre.
We used paper collage for these art works.
St Ita's pupils investigated Chinese Culture. Pupils illustrated an old Chinese legend about carp swimming against all the odds, up a waterfall, through the golden gates, to the yellow river. Successful carp were rewarded by the gods and turned into powerful dragons.
The story is a good lesson for us all; work your hardest and be rewarded!
The pupils cut and layer patterned paper to create detailed carp and dragons.
The pupils worked on the background which includes swirling water ripples and tall grasses.
The final five boards!
Cregagh Primary investigated Indian Culture. I brought along lots of beautiful saris. We looked at the different patterns and designs and discussed the thriving textile in India. We talked about the significance of Mumbai's Golden Gate and how it symbolises imported and exported goods to and from India to the rest of the world.
First everyone made their own paisley pattern and looked at the Indian fabrics for inspiration.
Pupils worked in small groups to design their own piece of Indian fabric using patterned papers.
The Indian inspired fabrics swirl in and around Mumbai's Golden Gate.
Millennium Primary investigated Northern Ireland's Culture. There has been so much development of spaces and places throughout NI over the past few years. We looked at traditional and modern buildings, talked about what is inside and what it tells us about our own history.
The pupils traced around a photograph of a significant cultural building to highlight the small shapes that make up a complicated facade. Then they cut these shapes out of patterned paper and collaged.
I thoroughly enjoyed working with the pupils and amazing teachers at each primary school and look forward to future projects!
'Home Life' with St Mary's Primary School Belfast and Arts Ekta
This project was an opportunity for Primary 5 and 6 pupils in St Mary’s Primary School to present a fuller picture of their home life and day to day experiences.
The workshops allowed young people to explore their own identity and to recognise that celebrating ‘diversity’ is about celebrating our own sense of identity as well as that of others.
This inner city school comprises of a mixture of travelling and settled families.
Week 1: In our first workshop we did a variety of activities incorporating imagination, movement, talking, listening and drawing.
I asked the pupils to close their eyes and move virtually through each room in their home as I talked them through it. They then drew their homes. Each were very different: hostels, trailers, caravans, brick houses.
Working in pairs, I asked the pupils to physically walk their partner through their home elaborating on the layout and other details: Walk, talk and share your stories.
Week 2: Working in groups of five, pupils drew a map illustrating their journey from home to school. Each map included the school, five homes, streets, landmarks, vehicles and road markings, etc encountered on each individual journey.
Week 3 and 4: Using the home drawings made in week 1 and maps in week 2, the pupils created textile maps made from patterned fabrics and felt.
Week 5 and 6: We talked about favourite spaces in the home and investigated why different spaces were better than others. Pupils then created individual 3D sets of these favourite spaces. They used small boxes, coloured card, embossed paper, cotton wool, gems, glitter, buttons... the list goes on!
Wardrobes and beds made out of small boxes and decorated with colourful tissue paper and small pieces of lace.
This one even has a front path!
A bookshelf made out of card, tissue paper and gems.
The 'favourite space' boxes were pinned onto corridor boards for other pupils to admire.
I pieced all the maps together to create a vibrant and busy wall hanging which now hangs permanently in St Mary's hallway.
The pupils in St Mary's were so enthusiastic and an absolute pleasure to work with!
Newry Traveller Group
Over six weeks I worked with eight girls from the traveller community in Newry. The girls investigated where different members of their family travelled to and lived throughout their lives. An extensive list of towns and cities across Ireland and the UK was built up. We mapped their footprints on a large map. Each colour of wool represents a different family.
They then decided collectively, where they would like to travel to in the future and why. All pieces of coloured wool were wrapped together for this map. Many of the girls are related or close friends and would like to continue travelling together.
We shared stories about what is most important to them in their lives. They brought along objects that told us a little about themselves. They compiled information about themselves as individuals in the form of drawing and poetry.
The drawings and poems were transferred into individual textile artworks. They cut out their poems from patterned fabrics first. This one below is about one participant's engagement RING. It says, Really happy, In love, Nice, Gift.
The group learnt how to make felt. The felted images represent the objects brought along at the beginning of the project. They embroidered and beaded these using line, cross and chain stitch.
Bracelet with purple beads and chain stitch.
Smart phone with embroidered text and sequin edging.
Horseshoe with carefully embroidered edging, beading and sequins.
Portrait of Me
This intergenerational project was a collaboration between National Museums NI, Elmgrove Primary School and Elmgrove Manor in East Belfast.
The project started by looking at 'The Queen' portraiture exhibition in the Ulster Museum in Belfast. Participants investigated how the Queen has been portrayed during her life; a ruling Queen, a loving mother, a fun and colourful personality, etc.
The group began by telling us how they can be portrayed. What do they like to see, smell, taste, talk about, think about and hear?
Each participant brought in an object that tells us something about them. They each created an acrostic poem about the objects and hung these from hand made kites! A beautiful way to display their hard work!
Each participant chose 3 or 4 favourite drawings from their portrait picture made at the beginning of the project. These images were cut out of coloured acetate and glued onto each section of our window panel. All sections came together to form the profile silhouette of a child and an adult.
The Final Artwork!
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the final evaluation event which showcased all the artwork created throughout the 6 week project.
Ballyclare Women's Group: Northern Irish Linen Industry Project
This project was part of NI National Museum's Live and Learn Program.
Over six weeks, the group learnt about the linen industry and its relevance within Ballyclare particularly. Through discussion, sharing stories, video, photography and a visit to see the museum's private collection of tapestries, the group built up a strong knowledge of the linen industry.
The group monoprinted, polystyrene printed, embroidered and beaded onto linen to highlight specific areas. Their imagery related to linen production, the machinery and techniques used, old buildings in Ballyclare and sentimental objects which held memories from the linen production era.
The final wall hanging is permanently exhibited in Ballyclare Community Centre.
Indian Community Centre: Northern Irish Linen Industry Project
This project was also part of the National Museum's Live and Learn Program.
Over ten weeks, the group learnt about the linen industry in Northern Ireland. They were introduced to the same museum linen collections and information as the Ballyclare group but their ideas and interests took the project in a different direction. We started by building up a body of drawings inspired by tapestry and embroidery floral designs. These were then transfered into polystyrene prints onto fabric. They also created stencils and screen printed their designs onto linen and embroidered to finish.
The wall hanging is now permanently exhibited in the Indian Community Centre, Belfast.
'Fond Memories'
Newington Day Centre and Holy Family Primary School
Newington Day Centre and Holy Family Primary School
Ten children from Holy Family Primary worked with ten members of Newington Day Centre over six weeks. The project was based around their favourite games and childhood memories. Working in pairs, they created drawings, monoprints and polystyrene prints onto fabric. Favourite games included hop-scotch, riding a bike, computer games and even swinging around a lamp post! We also remembered our favourite school yard rhymes and poems.
NMNI over 50's Live and Learn Project
As part of the National Museums of Northern Ireland's Live and Learn Project, I delivered a 3 week course on printmaking in June 2011. Based in the Ulster American Folk Park, 15 adults learnt how to monoprint onto linen, screenprint and create stamps to print. Their imagery relates to the surroundings of the Folk Park and the exhibitions currently displayed.
Below is a selection of finished work that will be exhibited in the Ulster American Folk Park later this year: Monoprints, stamps and screenprints.
Using the exhibition 'Through the Eye of the Needle' at the Folk Park as our influence, we created stamps and block printed.
By making 2 or 3 stencils the group made amazing multi-colour screenprints. 
The final wall hanging for exhibition in the Ulster American Folk Park.
'Fair Trade Education For All' Project: Currie Primary and Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagain
In January 2011, I worked with two schools to create group artworks that responded to Fair Trade in developing countries. The final artworks were publicly exhibited in the Ulster Hall Belfast alongside six other schools. Currie Primary explored the production of African Kente Cloth. The Primary 7 pupils created a monoprinted wall hanging and paper weavings.
A group of 21 people aged 18 to 27 have been chosen for the Springboard Project.
They have been attending sports training for 6 weeks in Northern Ireland and will go on to teach these sports for 6 weeks in Canada.
Over 12 hours, I worked with the group to learn about The Good Red Roads Code of Conduct. They looked at The First Nations in Canada and created a mosaic in response to this.
The new community centre on the Shore Road in Belfast needed a bit of colour injected. The young members decided to paint a mural on one wall in the social room. Within each puzzle shape shows their hopes and dreams for the future; To go camping, go karting, bowling, swimming and learn karate!
Their motto? Reach for the Stars!
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Mosaic : Kasapin's School
During my working visit to Kasapin in Ghana, I worked with nine families in the community to create the first ever mosaic in their village. The family members made lots of drawings relating to their own lives and then we transformed them into mosaics. These were placed on the side of their newly built school. The finishing plaster work was completed after my time in Kasapin.
