Alison’s Creative Meet Up!

11/19/2019

CM Artist Alison, based in Warwickshire has been delivering art sessions to The Ashton Care Home in Hinkley and Aldersgate Retirement Flats in Nuneaton for over two years.

Since delivering sessions there, Alison encouraged The Ashton residents Dot, aged 97 and Cedric who has MS, to get back into their creative practice. Staff and residents have been amazed at the beauty of the work that they are now producing.

Alison has also been blown away by the work of 96 year old Cecily, a resident at Aldersgate Retirement Flats. Cecily had a creative history and has been painting since the 1930s. She now produces stunning watercolour landscape paintings in Alison’s art sessions.

Alison and Janice, the Activity Coordinator at The Ashton decided it would be a lovely idea to organise a get-together with the residents from both settings. This would give them the opportunity to meet and share their passion for art while admiring each others work. So, on the 17^th October, Alison organised a mini exhibition of Dot and Cedric’s work at The Ashton. She brought Cecily over from Nuneaton to enjoy a spot of lunch with fellow artists whilst viewing their work.

“It was wonderful to listen to them share stories, and admire each others work. After lunch we visited Dot & Cedric’s bedrooms to enjoy some more of their artworks. It made for a lovely social occasion they shared ideas and techniques whilst we all chatted about our love for art!” – Alison.

Afterwards Dot said “I like meeting new people, especially people who share interests, so it was great to chat about our artwork.”

Cecily commented; “I thoroughly enjoyed the meet up. Dot and Cedric were so enthusiastic. I would be lovely to go and meet them again to discuss our latest paintings.”

Janice, the Activity Coordinator from The Ashton said: “After the meet up, the residents said how fabulous it was! It was a real clicking of minds and wonderful that Dot and Cedric got to meet others with the same interests and passions.”

The residents are all keen to meet up again, and have formed a lovely friendship, so Alison is looking to arrange another get together soon so that they can admire each other’s latest masterpieces.

Residents at The Millings excel with CM Artist Lily!

08/21/2019

Lily, CM Artist based in North Yorkshire has been delivering regular art sessions at The Millings Care Home in Bedale. Some of the residents have been displaying remarkable talent since getting involved in Lily’s sessions and the Managers of the home are thrilled with what they have achieved.

During the 1970’s and 80’s, resident Ivy used to be an avid painter, and enjoyed painting ceramic plates. Unfortunately personal circumstances prevented her from continuing her passion and she hadn’t picked up a paintbrush since. A year ago she moved to The Millings, and jumped at the chance to join Lily’s art sessions, and was surprised to discover that she could still paint!

When Ivy attends the sessions she becomes really absorbed in her work; it gives her great pleasure and a huge sense of pride, and Lily has been thrilled to see how much her confidence has grown. Lily says; “Ivy is a delicate Yorkshire woman and is always so happy to learn new techniques. It has been a pleasure working with her and getting to know her.”

On 28^th June Ivy made local press and was featured in the Darlington and Stockton Times for all she has achieved since getting back into her creative activity.

Eric another resident has shown incredible talent since Lily encouraged him to start painting. Eric says “It’s never too late to start a new hobby” and at nearly 94, he painted his first watercolour painting in a session with Lily. He enjoyed sketching as a young man and during his school years, so was thrilled at how his painting turned out. He’s been creating beautiful watercolour paintings ever since!

Back in springtime, Lily decided to work with residents and managers from The Millings along with a selection of local schools and nurseries to put together a community art exhibition at the home. Residents got to showcase the beautiful artwork created during their Creative Minds Art Sessions. Then children from local pre-schools, infant, primary and secondary schools all created their own work for the exhibition to the theme of sunflowers and rainbows.

The exhibition opened on the 12^th July, and the home was decorated in beautiful artwork running all the way from the front door through to the back of the house. There was an excellent turn-out on the day and the event brought together people of all ages to come and enjoy the results of their creative efforts whilst enjoying a glass of Prosecco with the residents.

Sandy, the Activity Coordinator at The Millings said; “Our residents have really excelled with Lily from Creative Minds. She really motivates, stimulates and enthuses our residents!”

‘The Museum of Things That Don’t Stand Still’ – Creative Minds at the Tate Exchange

06/25/2019

We were sad to see the end of our 3-day project at the Tate Exchange which ran 15^th – 17^th May in collaboration with MA students from the University of Westminster. The project was themed around “movement” in response to the current exhibition at The Tate Modern by Jenny Holzer. This has inspired the project to explore ideas surrounding migration, flight and reflect on the way in which we all move through life. The project brought together a diverse range of people, young and old to explore their creativity and add their own piece of art to our interactive installation “The Museum of Things That Don’t Stand Still.”

In the run up to the event at the Tate Exchange, the students joined a number of our artists for their sessions, and created pieces of work as a starting point for the installation. Delicate origami birds were created during these sessions, plus piles of pretty hand-crafted flowers. We gained access to the venue at the beginning of the week, and all hands were on deck. CM Artists worked hard with the students, and the installation began to take shape ready for the project to open to the public on Wednesday the 15^th May.

A number of our clients joined us for the event, and people visiting the gallery dropped in to take part. They had the option to create feathers to add to our giant wings, Percy the peacock, or flowers and leaves to add to a walk-through passage.

Alternatively people could come and create their own pair of super-powered shoes. Imaginations ran wild as people had fun deciding on ways in which they could power them up!

Participant Derek Kingsleigh said: “It’s an incredible place with all the our flowers and leaves we made. You did so much with the space. I’m not just impressed I’m very very impressed.”

Christine, aged 102 really got stuck in and left the session saying: “Amazing, I’ve had a wonderful time. I’ll come again!”

By the close of the event at the Tate Exchange, you could walk down a colourful passage beautifully decorated with flowers and birds. Percy the grand peacock stood proud and tall with beautifully decorated feathers in his train. Our open wings sculpture looked vibrant, with all the pretty feathers participants added to it. The finished display of super-powered shoes looked remarkable, and included shoes that allowed you to explore the galaxy, bring light into people’s lives, shoes that spread happiness and shoes which meant they could live that day again at the Tate!

We loved each individual’s unique and imaginative take on the themes.

Our artists thoroughly enjoyed themselves too…

“It was so wonderful to see people connecting while making. People who’d never met before from all over the world! It gave them a space to play, contemplate and be in the moment.” Sarah Jane

“This was another example of how art elevates humanity. I got a huge satisfaction from seeing participants so profoundly happy to be creating art in such an amazing setting.” Hanna

What a thoroughly uplifting experience, which brought together people from all walks of life to enjoy the benefits that communal creative activities can bring.

At the end of the day CM Community Manager Sarah, who has been project managing the event, received this heart-warming feedback from one attendees: “I was so deeply moved by today’s event. Combining creativity, art, imagination and giving to others. It was extraordinary! You should feel extremely good and at peace in your heart.”

Art Exhibition at the Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust!

04/16/2019

Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust is the largest specialist heart and lung centre in the UK and among the largest in Europe. Both hospitals are renowned for their expertise and standard of care in the field of heart and lung disease.

The Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals Charity funds innovative treatment, equipment and research at their two hospitals, that fall outside of NHS funding. They brings the benefits of the arts to support in and outpatients at Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals and the local communities surrounding each hospital.

We are delighted to be currently exhibiting in their Sydney Street Coffee Shop. Our art exhibition features a variety of work created by participants during our art sessions across the country, showcasing the work that we do that boosts the participants self confidence and esteem and in turn helps them to overcome isolation and loneliness that can occur in care settings.

On Sunday 31st March, Community Development Manager Sarah & Creative Minds Artist Georgiana led the installation of the artwork. The work on display includes acrylic paintings, pastel drawings, landscapes, figurative pieces and vibrant abstract work. A wonderful representation of the diverse selection of work created during our art sessions.

The Director of the Brompton Foundation commented “I just wanted to say how much I really love the new exhibition in the coffee shop!!”

The art exhibition is open to the public until Sunday 19th May, and we’d like to encourage everyone to pop in to view it! Please post or tweet about the exhibition, mentioning us and the Royal Brompton and we will share it. 🙂