The project has been successful in many different aspects and is now entering its 2nd phase. The artists, Nickova and Sue, are going to present, to art colleges, art organisations and universities in the Southeast region of England, presentations and exhibitions of the process. This is to share and discuss outcomes and to engage a debate of the possibilities of involving people with mild to moderate learning disabilities in visual art processes. If your organisation is interested to host a presentation of ‘Exploration’ please get in touch with Nickova, e-mail: Nickova@hotmail.com, we are happy to send you further information on your request.

Exhibition at Belfry Shopping Centre

Please see our Photo-stream of Exploration at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/explophase2/with/5638408291/

Self-Portrait, Mainstream Service Users, 8th May 2009

Exploration, Self-Portrait, Mainstream Service Users, Friday 8^th May 2009

 

Present-Nigel, Colin, Penny, Paul, Joanna, Luke, Aimee, Theresa, Nickova, Sue Sargeaunt and Ana Kuzan

Nickova did a demonstration to show an example of textural painting. Aimee and Theresa, two staff where present as was Luke Dearlove who had asked to join the project.

Luke did some beautiful exploratory work as did Nigel and Penny. There was an obvious improvement in the process of letting go for all group members.

 

The second half of the session involved taking a Polaroid photo of each other in the group and sticking it onto the large canvas.

Nigel had brought in his Godzilla. Ana the photographer took photos of this. The group was working on different things at the time. There was a creative and productive atmosphere in the room, which appeared as liberating and exhilarating.

 

The room is now visibly getting its own marks – apparently some staff members have complained about the floor, but as we have been reassured before starting the sessions, that this will be no problem, I think this will resolve over time.

 

We sat all together at the end of the session with a cup of tea, which is now becoming a welcome routine. We discussed what was going to happen in the next sessions and asked people to bring their memorabilia, something especially important to them, so that Nickova can take some photographs of the items. The photographs would then be printed in the session 2 weeks later and ironed onto canvas. We explained and showed the group what canvases are and how they are made, explaining that the group will stretch their own canvas. No one of the group has ever worked on canvas or stretched a canvas before. There was lots of excitement and anticipation and Nickova reassured the group that there will be a bit more experimentation next week and that we will show and help everyone to do new things.

Self- Portrait, 1st May 2009

Exploration, Self- Portrait,  1^st May 2009

Present: Nigel, Penny, Colin, Paul, Joanna and Sue Sargeaunt.

Nickova was at a funeral.

The group met, but as Nickova and I had agreed, without staff.

I suggested to the group that we paint with nothing in our heads that they try to think of nothing in particular.  I put some instrumental music on and everyone explored the paint and materials, initially on sheets of cartridge paper.  I had set the room up and mixed the paint earlier. I asked if the group would agree for me to wet some of the paper to encourage fluidity of paint. All agree and people were amazingly relaxed as time went on.

It was liberating for everyone and peaceful. After a while I suggested that people could paint on the large canvas, which was propped against the wall. Most people were able to paint freely on the large canvas. The atmosphere was playful, light-hearted and joyful. I took some photos.

Colin was the only one who didn’t want to paint on the large canvas. He continued his painting on cartridge paper.

Self-Portrait -Friday pm, 24th April 2009

Self-Portrait diary Friday pm. 24^th April 2009

Present: Nigel, Paul, Penny, Joanna, Colin, (Service Users) Theresa, Aimee (Staff).

Sue Sargeaunt and Nickova (Artists)

First session!

We met with the group and discussed our ideas of a self-portrait. Each person spoke of memories and objects that were meaningful to themselves.

Nickova and I had agreed, that for the first session, as it was a way of introduction, that everybody could paint individually using the tables and easels set up in the room, painting whatever would come into their mind.

 

Nickova did a demonstration of how to use the materials; the paint and the brushes, how to wash them out particularly so that the colours could remain fresh and the brushes would not dry out.

 

Each person painted two to three paintings of their own choice. There was a lot of natural movement in the room as people used the materials then collected more paint or changed brushes. Initially there were some interactions as people settled into the painting process.

After every one had settled into their own process, there was a 25-30 minute period of concentration and focus as people became absorbed.

We all met together after this and looked at our paintings as a group with a cup of tea. We also discussed what will happen next and how Nickova and I have planned the course.

 

Nickova and I had been able to take some photographs whilst people were painting, as Ana Kuzan (our photographer) is not available for all sessions.

Oasis – Friday 24th April 2009

Exploration diary Friday 24th April 2009

Oasis – first session!

On Friday morning Nickova and I had decided that I would be with Laura and she would be with Tina, both from Oasis. I had gone into Oasis and chatted to the staff and service users just to break the ice and to relieve my nervousness, as I had not worked with Laura before. I had a cup of coffee too. I had set the room up in a way that Nickova and I discussed. Laura and Tina’s working space apart from each other and tables for both of them. Sally was the support for Tina, yet she was also there for Laura if we needed some advice or assistance.

Sally brought Tina in her wheelchair to the room and I helped Laura to walk down. Sally and I positioned Tina in her working space and then we introduced Laura to her working space.

Sue Sargeaunt working with Laura

 

Sally and I were both unsure what reaction Laura would have to the paint and the brushes. Laura picked up a brush and then she chose some paint and we went to the table. Laura stood, with me gently supporting her, whilst Sally assisted her with the paintbrush. For some time Laura held her brush then dropped it onto the table. I encouraged her to do this. It became her way of getting to know the materials. She repeatedly picked it up, and dipped it into paint jerking it onto the paper and making marks, sometimes moving or dragging it across the paper, then dropping, picking it up again, making marks with the paint as her fingers became increasingly covered in the paint. During this time Laura would sometimes lean forward closely towards the table as if looking at her painting and the paint. It was an exhilarating experience, being with her, for, as time went on, she seemed to be more and more at ease so that gradually I was able to introduce more trays of individual colours onto the table that she could use. I noticed that she got some satisfaction from putting the brush into one tray and then another, the colours getting more and more mixed. She also put the brush over her t-shirt and fingers at times. She appeared fascinated with this. I think that Laura was involved and focused for over 40 minutes. Laura clapped to let everyone know what she had done and how pleased she was with herself.

 

Nickova working with Tina

 

Although I had seen Tina during our presentations I did not know her and it was not clear if she recognised me at all.

When I entered the room Tina was already in her position, in her wheelchair behind the table. I introduced myself to Tina, Sally (who I knew from the presentations) and Laura. Tina was not looking at me but paid some attention to what I was doing in front of her. Whilst talking to her explaining what I was doing, I would drop paint onto the paper in front of her and would use the brush or my fingers to move the paint around. I tried to encourage Tina to engage with me, and Sally came to help me to do this. Tina would slowly engage, picking up the brush and throwing it away from her. She would occasionally hit with her hands onto the paper in front of her. I was trying not to express any pressure for Tina to do what I did. After my experience with Jason I knew that I had to give Tina lots of time and probably just try to involve her in some playful activity with the paper and the paint. I personally felt insecure with Sally next to me, sensing a kind of ambition, from her side, to reach some achievement. When the paper was beginning to get very wet I removed it and put the large canvas on the table. Tina was now rubbing with her hands into the paint I was pouring out in front of her. It appeared to me that Tina was quite tactile in how she explored the different material. The time seemed to pass by quickly even though the process appeared very slow. Tina had no eye contact with me during the 40 min and was relatively quiet, making only some little, quiet noises from time to time.

SPECTRUM – Wednesday 22nd April 2009

Exploration, Discovering Myself, with SPECTRUM – Wednesday 22^nd April 2009

First Session, working with James

 

This session started shortly after the first session with ISIS (Anna and Jason) We cleaned up and set the room out for James from Spectrum. The room was laid out in a similar way as before for ISIS, with small easels (you have to sit in front of them and we had a chair already in place) also tables and wallpaper and a large canvas on the floor, to paint on tables, floor or the wall if desired. (We wanted to give as many opportunities as possible – this was for us and the participants to check out what would work best for them.)

Ana Kuzan, our photographer, was with us as well.

 

Nickova working with James

 

Sue and I had decided that I would work with James. The other participant suggested for the sessions was unable to attend as our course was clashing with a drama course he liked going to.

Sue had worked with James for years as his key worker. He only lately changed his key worker to someone else. We were aware that it would be difficult for James to relate to me, a complete stranger, whilst Sue was around. We also decided that Sue helps James to get changed into his paining clothes, so not to confront James with a stranger.

Sue brought James into the room and we introduced ourselves and I explained the session to James. Sue and I had agreed that she would be in the room, but away from James, working on her own paintings.

 

I asked James if he would like to sit in front of the easel and asked him what colours he would like. James sat down in front of the easel but was consistently calling Sues name. Sue was not reacting (as we had agreed) and Ana (photographer) and I kept explaining to James that Sue is involved in her own paintings and does not want to be disturbed. James got the hang of it eventually. He was choosing the brush he wanted to work with and chose his colours. He felt very content whilst painting and decided on his own when his work was finished. He painted on two papers on the easel and then went on to work on the wall encouraged by me.

He still wanted to work with a small brush but seemed to enjoy working on the wall. It also appeared that James liked the interaction with Ana (photographer – he was always alarmed by the sound of the camera) and me, but enjoyed it when he could show Sue at the end of the session what he had done.

James told us when it was time for him to stop and to get ready for the bus to be picked up from the Day Service. We all had a cup of tea together before James left.

 

Sue’s note of the session:

I collected James from the relaxation room.  I changed James into his painting clothes.  James kept calling my name “Susie, Susie” and clicking his fingers.  Nickova spoke to James and we encouraged him to sit at the easel.  Nickova asked James if he would like to do some painting and as James began working he became more absorbed and focused and calm. He interacted positively with both Nickova and Ana the photographer. He asked a question  “what is that noise?” and then answered it himself with small encouragement – “the camera”.  His verbal interactions and responses gave indication of the trust he obviously felt with both Nickova and Ana.  His paintings occupied a central space on the cartridge paper and, in my opinion, seemed to hang there. James also worked on paper on the wall with Nickova and took some satisfaction in showing me when he had finished.

During this time I painted, using cartridge paper on the table.  It was pleasurable to have time to allow myself to be absorbed in the movement and sweep of brush and paint.

In this session I realised the need to distance myself from James as he continued to try to engage with me. I have worked very closely with James on a daily basis for over 10 years. Nickova was extremely quick to establish a trusting rapport with James in a very short space of time by encouraging him to do his own work and by telling him that I was doing my own painting. “What’s Susie doing?” I played my part by keeping my head down and ignoring him.  James was therefore able to engage more fully with the painting process and of course, when he had finished, and asked my opinion, I was pleased to respond favourably.

Nickova managed the dynamics of this session extremely well.

 

After thoughts on the work with ISIS (Anna and Jason) and Spectrum (James), by Nickova

Both Sue and I thought that the sessions went very well as a starting point. We discussed the experience and arranged with Ana Kuzan what days she would be able to join us. Ana arrived at my studio in Brighton today, helping me to pack the materials into the car. Over the whole day Ana became more than a photographer, she was helping us to set–up and assisted with tasks during the sessions whilst building her relationship to the participants through her way of communicating with them. Ana seemed to be the right person that Sue and I would appreciate to have around every session during the project!

 

We agreed that I would carry on working with Jason, hoping to build a relationship with him whilst decreasing Andy’s support. Sue will keep working with Anna and after a few weeks we will review this and maybe change.

We agreed to do something similar next week and maybe even the week after that, to enable the participants to learn and to get used to material and environment and to find their way of painting, and to use the space and material more independently (avoiding being destructive for themselves or others).

 

Some additional notes of ideas for the future:

1. I think Jason needs more space to himself and also the allowance to taste paint. If he likes to throw things we could think about a corner of covered wall space where he could throw paint balls (which need to be strong enough to fly and soft enough not to hurt anyone). As he is quite tactile we should encourage him to paint with his hands and later work with clay with him.
2. Anna could be encouraged to choose her paint freely every time and to do the same with choosing a painting ‘station’ (easel, floor, table), so that she is not waiting for us to suggest something.
3. The same with James as with Anna. I wonder if James could articulate when he thinks his painting is finished and when and where he would like to start a new one?
4. I think we would need small tables for material such as the paint, close to every paint station, to make it easy for people to get the colour and brush they like.
5. Sue and I need to take care that brushes are going back in the same colour container or into a bucket of water – we need more water buckets for each material table.
6. We need more paper towel
7. We need to get feedback from Andy – how he found the process and if he himself enjoyed it, how he perceived Jason, if it would be possible for Andy to step back – every time a little bit more, how difficult it was to clean Jason and if there has been feedback from Jason in any form and from his parents.
8. We have to find out similar feedback for Anna and James.
9. Only at the start of the project did we think about consent forms. This can be a difficult issue when working with vulnerable people in an institution. I suggested writing and printing consent forms specifically for the project, to be signed by everyone taking part in the sessions. (In the end we used the existing ones at the centre and only asked for additions for people who were not yet included in them.)

 

Wednesday 22nd April 2009 – First Session

Exploration, Discovering Myself, with ISIS – Wednesday 22^nd April 2009

First Session

We carried equipment to the painting room with the help of Vincent and Colin who were very pleased to see Nickova and Ana, the photographer. We thanked them and then set up the room how we wished.

It was laid out with small easels (we had placed a chair in front of them) also tables and wallpaper and a large canvas on the floor, to paint on tables, floor or the wall if desired. (We wanted to give as many opportunities as possible – this was for us and the participants to check out what would work best for them).

Sue and I were quite anxious about this first session. It was a complete unknown of what to expect and how the workshop could turn out. Even though Sue works at the Day Service, the participants from ISIS were unknown to both of us. Sue had worked a little bit with Anna before and said she would rather like to work with Anna, and suggested I work with Jason. We asked Andy (his key worker) to join the first sessions until we get to know Jason and have built a mutual trust relationship.

Sue Sargeaunt working with Anna:

I went to get Andy and Jason. Andy had been waiting for some staff cover in Isis before he was able to come in. I went to ask Anna to come in and discovered that she needed changing into her painting clothes, which I helped her with. I was concerned about her shoes so I took those off as well as her socks and then we went into the painting room together. Anna didn’t seem that relaxed and made for a chair at the far end of the room. I realised that the floor was cold for her feet. I put her shoes and socks back on. Anna was a lot more relaxed. Anna and I went to the table and I encouraged her to pick up a brush and to use some paint.  She became extremely relaxed and absorbed, painting freely in sweeping movements, at the table, onto the cartridge paper, without any concern about edges. I stepped back and watched. When Anna had finished I asked her if she would like to sit at the easel. I held a tray of paint for her and she painted vertically onto the paper but did not seem so focused. We then had a walk over to the canvas on the floor and, as she was very calm, relaxed and trusting I encouraged her to sit with me on the floor next to the canvas.  Anna painted onto the canvas in the space near her.  She was extremely happy in a cross-legged position. Jason, with Nickova and Andy, joined in with the canvas painting. Anna seemed comfortable with Jason being near at first but she became increasingly jittery giving indication of this by making some loud noises. Anna had been silent prior to this. We ended there.

I had been pleased that they had been able to be together at the canvas on the floor for a short time and that Anna had shown some trust and confidence to do this especially after her withdrawn start.

I saw that, throughout the session, Anna had been aware of the people in the room as, although she didn’t make sustained, direct eye contact with anyone, she did take fleeting glances around.

Nickova working with Jason

Andy had changed Jason into his painting clothes and it was agreed that he would clean Jason and get him dressed in his usual clothes after the session.

It seemed that Andy and Jason were a bit anxious about the new session as well. Jason seemed happy, but alert when entering the room. He was waving his hands in front of him whilst looking around the room.

We welcomed Jason and Andy and explained to Jason that this was a painting workshop.

As we were standing close to an easel (Anna was now working on a table) I thought it a good idea to encourage Jason to start paining on an easel. I was talking to Jason and showing him how he could do this; dipping a brush into a paint container (which I was holding in my hand) and then making brush strokes on the paper hanging on the easel. Then I gave Jason the brush, whilst holding the paint container towards him. The brush went straight into Jason’s mouth before he explored it with his hands and then throwing it in the air. Jason was laughing and now grabbing the paint container out of my hands and throwing it also up in the air. This took me completely by surprise. It was so fast that after a minute Andy, Jason and I were completely covered in paint – from top to toe. We were all laughing and Jason was also energetically waving his hands. Well the next plan was to show Jason how to use his hands – they were covered in paint already but I held another paint container, which this time (being prepared) I held very tightly. Andy took Jason’s hand to guide him to paint on the easel. We also encouraged Jason to hold the brush and to paint with the brush. The brush would always go into his mouth first before Jason would use it on the paper but he got the idea of the method. After working a while on the easel Jason went on (with my encouragement) to work on the wall. Brushes and paint container (now filled up only with a minimum of paint) would fly occasionally through the room. Jason was not aiming to hit anybody, or throwing things in anger. He seemed to enjoy throwing things away from him. He was laughing but also showing an interest in the paint and the mark making of his fingers on the paper. Also there was lots of guidance from Andy and my side to hold and move his hand and the paintbrush he was holding sometimes.

We went from the wall onto the floor, joining Anna who was painting there already. It was then when Jason was actually making his own marks, rubbing the paint I poured in front of him onto the canvas. These were only very short movements but they were conscious and his own!

The session lasted for an hour and Andy and I were exhausted. Jason seemed happy, having enjoyed his first painting exploration.

Andy told me later that Jason was consistently removed from any art classes because of his habit to put the brush into his mouth.

P.S.

Please read also ‘After thoughts’ at end of diary pages from SPECTRUM on 22^nd April 2009

Mencap: Facts about learning disability

Mencap: Facts about learning disability.

The Beginning of Exploration – ‘Discovering My Self’ April – June 2009 at Colebrook Day Service By Nickova, 22nd of April 2009

22nd April 2009:

First session: ISIS – challenging behaviour – and SPECTRUM – autistic spectrum disorder

Participants: Jason (ISIS) plus support worker Andy, Anna (ISIS), James (SPECTRUM)

Photographer and assistance: Ana Kuzan

Artists: Sue Sargeaunt and Nickova

Duration: each participant was working for about 1hour with one-to–one support from the artists (Jason also had support from his support worker Andy)

Pre – thoughts before the first session:

Before packing the material it came into my mind that I had no plan. Even though I had discussed (with Sue) in detail on the 25^th of March about our approaches, I felt blank. The project is not to be set up like a school class where you predict didactically every minute of what and how to teach, however just putting out some materials for the participants and saying “choose what you like” would, in my experience, not work either. We will have participants from ISIS and SPECTRUM, with challenging behaviour and autistic spectrum disorders, (difficulties to focus, no verbal speech, easily agitated and distressed.) We have discussed lots of methods but not what it actually is we are going to do the very first session. It should be something simple, not too overwhelming but interesting and encouraging. I made my decision whilst jogging: We will start with paint and paper. Later I decided together with Sue that we would use only the primary colours; red, blue, yellow, some white and black. Sue has organised small easels. We decided to have different ‘stations’ to paint: Sitting in front of the easels, standing and painting on paper spread out on a table, painting on large paper hanging on the wall or on a large canvas on the floor.

Painting is direct and will provide direct results. I believe a blue brush stroke on a white paper, for example, has something very attractive. Working in large format is new to most of the participants. There is the challenge of the new and the attraction of the paint, the colour, smell, touch and texture. Drawing large formats is more difficult; most people have experienced drawing but only on small-scale papers. Drawing large might be better experienced later. So we decided to start with painting. The concept in detail will be created and defined whilst we are going along with the project.

It was at first not clear to me how to use the room although we had previously viewed the room and discussed some ideas. We would not know how it might work before we had put everything out, such as tables, easels etc.

In addition I did not know the people I was expecting to work with. Although Sue sent me their names and told me which part of the units they were coming from we omitted to get information about character and communication ability. The presentation we gave to service users and staff was more about passing on information about the project Exploration. We should have made sure that we had an insight of participant’s character and ability, particularly for me, as I am external to the centre. This was not intentional; we simply missed it during a busy preparation phase.

Sue and I have agreed to pull-in a photographer for the important documentation and evaluation. It is a huge advantage to have someone else to take the pictures whilst we can focus on the facilitation. Unfortunately we did not think about this when writing the proposal so we have no budget and the payment has to come from some of the material money.

It was Ana Kuzan, a young woman with creative interest and a good photographer, who agreed to work for us about every fortnight for a small fee.

Ana has already been with us at the day service for one of our presentations to mainstream users and staff and has introduced herself to the people involved.

Arrival and set up:

We arrived on Wednesday in time to set up and were greeted by Colin (service user) who announced that he will take part in the Friday session, and Vincent (service user) was right there to show us to the room and to help unloading the car.

Sue arrived and we started to set up the different ‘painting- stations’, including two tables for the material (paint, water, brushes, A1 paper). We were not able to cover the whole floor because of lack of cover.

(At this stage not all proposed money has come in yet. Sue has started negotiation with Brewers management from Redhill (Andrew) to get some material donated. This is still in process and we have to organise ourselves as best as we can for the start)

Setting up for the first time took us longer than scheduled and we started slightly later than planned. The staff at least was informed and helped to get the participants ready dressed in their painting clothes.

P.S.

Please also read Sues impression and the following diary pages for the separate groups of ISIS and Spectrum on Wednesday and OASIS (multiple needs) and Mainstream Users (Portrait Group) on Firdays.

 

 

Project Exploration

These Diary pages will give you an inside of the process of the project. They have been written during and after the project and are added here in chronological order soon.

Please feel free to add any comments or to get in touch with Nickova via her email if you have any questions or like to share your own experience of working with visual arts media with people with learning disabilities.