The brief for the Ancestree project at Wales Millennium Centre was very open and inclusive. We asked visitors to write on the leaf templates, or just on paper about their favourite things, family, or nature. Some stayed for longer, but most were families enjoying half term, passing through on their way around Cardiff Bay. Finished … Continue reading Ancestree Stories
Ancestree – Creative Writing Workshops
From Monday to Wednesday, I'm going to be running creative writing workshops with Flow Maugran, the creator of Ancestree, an incredible four-storey crochet tree installation in Glanfa foyer at Wales Millennium Centre. The workshops are free and drop-in - see here for more info - no need to book. Ancestree was the centrepiece during the Your … Continue reading Ancestree – Creative Writing Workshops
Printing: Week Four
One and a half fun days of printing for five groups of children to create covers for their story set in Victorian times. They voted for 'The Runaways' as their title (also the name of one of the first all-female rock bands!), so I made a lino stamp that was strong enough to be used … Continue reading Printing: Week Four
Project Preparation
Before going into the school today, I did some preparation for our printmaking session. I knew it was important to keep it as simple as possible, but for the children to have the chance to try a few different printing methods. I collected some dried leaves in the park to use for mono prints, and … Continue reading Project Preparation
Collaboration: Week Three
One of the main priorities the school has for their Victorian project is to increase collaboration skills in the class, as well as the other Creative Habits of Mind (Imaginative, Inquisitive, Persistent, and Disciplined). As the creative practitioner working with the teacher and class over five weeks, I have tried to make the activities as … Continue reading Collaboration: Week Three
Character Development: Week Two
Week two of working with children from a primary school in Llanrumney on their Victorian project. Emma, their teacher split the class into six groups so that they could collaborate on a section of the story they devised last week. The day was divided between writing, creating artwork, and drama, beginning with character development. The … Continue reading Character Development: Week Two
Creative Schools: The Victorians
I'm really excited to be working with Year 5 & 6 and their teacher Emma at a primary school in Llanrumney. Over the next four weeks, we'll be developing a story set in Victorian times through the mediums of role pay, script writing, story writing, and painting and printing. One aim is for the children … Continue reading Creative Schools: The Victorians
Cultural Cwtsh Commission
My film about how to make Photo Stories is now featured on the Cultural Cwtsh - a website of creative resources to support the wellbeing of frontline NHS and social care staff in Wales. You can view it here.
Filming Day
Marcus and Nick (Redbrck Productions) visited the studio on Tuesday to collect footage for the Cultural Cwtsh Film. I have been busy preparing the script - a ten minute presentation on how to create photo stories that I sent to the guys in advance so they could make a schedule for the day. As I've … Continue reading Filming Day
Photo Poems
More photo poems for the Arts Council of Wales/NHS Creative Cwtsh commission. I haven't been strict about the 5,7,5 syllable structure with these, but they are inspired by the Haiku form. Also, having fun with cut-up collaging of letters: