I'm facilitating a new 11 week course for adults at Llanover Hall. This week, participants explored shapes and colour, beginning with the three primary colours, mixing to create new hues and tones and jotting down how each one made them feel. We spoke about the psychology of colour and its power to effect mood, and … Continue reading Art for Wellbeing
Community Arts
Ancestree Stories
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
New Commission: Photo Poems for NHS Staff
I have been commissioned by Arts Council Wales to create a short video of a creative activity for NHS staff, to be uploaded to their Creative Cwtsh website. I am particularly pleased to be able to do this, having trained as a nurse back in the 90's, and also having accessed healthcare during lockdown. I … Continue reading New Commission: Photo Poems for NHS Staff
Diwali Workshop
June, Caroline and I ran a family workshop in the Glanfa area of Wales Millennium Centre yesterday as part of the Diwali celebrations in partnership with Wales Tamil Sangam. Many families came to have a go at making cards using beautiful autumn leaves, bubble wrap to print borders, and styrofoam to etch images decorating with glitter … Continue reading Diwali Workshop
Lantern Making
My colleague Caroline and I were invited to a primary school in Butetown to help the Year 6 children make willow lanterns. They will be carried in a Halloween procession for the community organized by Butetown Arts & Culture Association and Wales Millennium Centre. Caroline demonstrated how to construct the lantern structure from withie or … Continue reading Lantern Making
Little Books
Workshops for children and families at Llanover Hall and Wales Millennium Centre this summer. Participants learnt how to fold a little book in which to write and illustrate a story. Some children came with ideas for their story: a brother and sister brought along their favourite toys to be the protagonists, and one girl knew … Continue reading Little Books
Summer Workshops
A busy week of workshops at Llanover Hall and Wales Millennium Centre. Yesterday, a full class for the Storytelling and Art session for children aged 8-12. I asked them to count down from ten and write the first three words that came into their mind. Then to choose the word they liked best and do … Continue reading Summer Workshops
The Wonderful Weaving Tree
Here it is! The Weaving Tree created by Flow Maugran is finished. Flow has been working on the tree since February, and it is an amazing achievement. In collaboration with the technicians from Wales Millennium Centre, it is now secured centre stage in one of the central theatres at WMC. Art and craft works created … Continue reading The Wonderful Weaving Tree
Peace, Grace and Wisdom
Just some of the beautiful words printed on the last day of the Llenyddiaeth Cymru project at The Share Centre in Newport. The momentum has built from session to session, with some people returning to make another artwork, and new folk joining. Some of the participants chose words to reflect their faith and the celebration of … Continue reading Peace, Grace and Wisdom