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