Monday, 3 April 2023

Thanks so much for organising the visit to the ceramics exhibition at Newstead!

Monday, 6 March 2023

Artspeak first came to my attention in the Autumn of 2019. In January 2020 I saw details of a photography project. It said “ArtSpeak and Age Friendly Nottingham are looking for participants aged 60 and above to be models for a bespoke photography project”. The request was for individuals and groups of over 60’s in Nottingham who were willing to be photographed and would allow the use of the images in promotions by Age Friendly, Nottingham City Council and ArtSpeak.
For many years a group of friends and I have played badminton on Saturday mornings at a variety of venues from Victoria Leisure Centre to Djanogly Academy and at the time John Carroll Leisure Centre in Radford. I suggested to the group that we could offer ourselves as “models”. We submitted our details and were subsequently asked to provide a photo. We posed for the photo at John Carroll on a Saturday in February 2020.
Shortly after Covid-19 swept the country and we went into lockdown. Badminton playing ceased and the project was shelved. The photo remains as a lasting memory for us which would not have been taken but for Artspeak. As the Lockdowns came and went our group continued to meet in the open of course. The photo is also a lasting memory of John Carroll Leisure Centre which sadly was closed by the City Council as they could no longer support a leisure centre and swimming pool in Radford.

Monday, 6 March 2023

Outside the Welbeck Pottery studios - I really enjoyed the plate painting workshop during the visit in December 2021

Monday, 6 March 2023

Inside the Harley Gallery during a visit to the 'Kindred Spirits' exhibition in December 2021

Monday, 6 March 2023

I've enjoyed everything at ArtSpeak, craft and painting clubs, theatre trips, gallery visits, the whole lot! One that stands out is the trip to 'The Kindred Spirits' exhibition at Harley Gallery on Dec 16th 2021, followed by the plate decorating session at the Welbeck pottery there. In the depth of winter it was such a ray of sunshine and inspiration.

Saturday, 18 February 2023

One thing I loved about the dance was the provision of charcoal and sketch pads. I hadn't used charcoal for many years and this re-awakened a dormant skill and I've been pursuing charcoal sketched since day 1 of the dance sessions.

Saturday, 18 February 2023

I loved all the visits to galleries. A real joy to go with a small group and a privilege to get the expert tour guides.

Saturday, 18 February 2023

Artspeak welcomed my idea to start a life-drawing group. It has run monthly for a year now and we have plans to extend the group to public places as the weather gets warmer. It looks as though we have a nucleus of about 15 people over 60 who are keen to continue the group beyond the life of the programme.

Saturday, 18 February 2023

Walking into the room on day 1 was an emotional experience. The lights were dimmed and evocative background music was playing. This was a special, creative place that touched my soul as much as any cathedral could. I knew I was here for my healing. I was here to move, to be free and to let go of the social restraints that bind me. Thank God there were no ‘moves’ to learn. Here I could, at last be myself in the company of others and freely express myself. For too long I had lost myself in illness, grief, pain and recovery. My identity had been wrenched from me and here was the space I needed to reconnect with myself. I cannot intellectually explain the effects of the light, the room, the music, the calm instruction of the leader, the presence of 16 others, but they all came together to create a safe, creative and supportive space where I could find some healing. I realise now that I had instantly signed up for this course weeks ago because I instinctively knew it is what I needed; it was an atavistic urge to move my body to music in a safe environment. I loved the fact that our instructor was grey-haired. From the outset, I judged that she was an experienced professional; I trusted her immediately. Having taught adults for twenty odd years I have extremely critical antennae in any facilitated environment that I find myself. Our instructor was perfect. She didn’t teach at all, she had the depth to know that we each have our own teacher within us and she respected our individuality and that we are responsible for our own processes. She was a consummate facilitator. I cannot praise her skill enough. I loved her intuitive style and her authenticity. The course was everything I could have hoped for. I don’t mind the fact that this was just a short course and with no performance at the end. It was the process that mattered and the process was the outcome. I needed to ‘dance’, to move and to feel deeply connected to my body in the moment. In every session, I felt this connection to myself and each week I found tears rolling down my cheeks during the movement. I loved the creative journaling with drawing too.

Tuesday, 14 February 2023

This is the front cover of a beautiful book on John Clare by the artist/illustrator Carrie Akroyd called Natures Powers and Spells: Landscape Change, John Clare and me. I first saw it at John Clare cottage shop.

Tuesday, 14 February 2023

I've had so many enjoyable and informative ambled with Artspeak. My favourite memory is our lovely day at John Clare cottage with our expert guide. My photo is of the tote bag I bought at the cottage which will always remind me of our visit. Thank you Artspeak.

Thursday, 2 February 2023

A good time for reflection and getting out and about. Thank you