Creative Wellbeing Retreats at Devon Sculpture Park

02/04/2020

There is growing evidence that spending time in nature is essential to our wellbeing. From the pureness of the oxygen we breathe, to the sounds of wildlife, the visual beauty of a flower coming into bloom, each sense is uniquely awakened when we spend time re-connecting with our natural surroundings, bringing with it an innate sense of peace and connection with ourselves and the earth.

Alongside this, further research suggests that ‘the act of creating’ is equally important to our sense of wellbeing, spending just 45 minutes engaged in a creative activity lowers the bodies stress hormone significantly.

At Creative Minds we wholeheartedly believe in the power of both art and nature to transform our sense of wellbeing. We wanted to encompass this in our offering for 2020, and so we have partnered with the stunning Devon Sculpture Park, the UK’s leading smaller scale rewilding project and environmental art centre, to offer a monthly Creative Wellbeing Retreat, the first of which is planned for March 11^th.

Our Creative Wellbeing Retreats will provide the perfect combination of nature, art and creative expression for maximum impact on our wellbeing – come and try for yourself…

Refresh, re-imagine and create surrounded by contemporary environmental art, re-wilded Capability Brown gardens, ancient waterways, wildlife and endless sea views.

Attendees will spend time sketching en plein air, soaking in the beauty of the park, being inspired by the stunning environmental art on display, and gathering natural materials to incorporate into our own art. They can then return to the school house studio for some experimenting – with both natural and traditional art materials – to create their own unique mixed media responses to the uniquely beautiful surroundings, guided by Exeter based Creative Minds Artist Liz Swan.

A healthy laid-back lunch at the Robert Adam gallery is included, as well as a guided wellbeing walk through the park and access to all of the art exhibitions.

These retreats are suitable for all levels of art experience, we attendees will encourage each other and share skills along the way.

Book your place now for a day to restore and reenergise your creative soul! To find out more click/tap here: Creative Wellbeing Retreats -Devon

Check out the Devon Sculpture Park on social media:

www.facebook.com/devonsculpturepark
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Our First Painting and Prosecco Party!

02/18/2019

Our CM Artist Liz, based in Devon, recently held her first Painting and Prosecco party. One of the parents from her regular “Kids Create” groups expressed an interest in giving art a go, so they decided to hold a party at her house. A number of friends came along for a fun, relaxing evening of creativity. The night was such a success, that they all want to make it a regular evening!

None of the guests had really created any artwork since their school years, and were keen on trying something new. The party host had a lovely big dining table, where Liz laid out a selection of artistic materials including watercolours, pastels, acrylics and a selection of different textured paper. Then everyone enjoyed a glass of Prosecco whilst Liz ran some demonstrations showing different techniques to try. The task was to experiment with each medium and work towards creating a patchwork landscape picture.

Everyone got stuck in straight away, whilst Liz encouraged them to enjoy the process of exploring the mediums rather than focussing too much on the end result. Liz was on hand to offer advice, and help them to discover different ways to use each of the different mediums. Every enjoyed the fact that the session was so easy-going and informal, and it didn’t matter whether or not they had artist experience or not. It was a much more of a laid-back approach to getting creative rather, than your traditional art class, which can be intimidating for those without much experience.

All of the party attendees thoroughly enjoyed their evening, and found it a lovely way to get together with friends and unwind after a busy week. Everyone who went said they would love to all get together to do it again soon! Many were thrilled with their work, and all loved exploring the different materials on offer whilst enjoying the creative process. The evening was a huge success!

Liz can’t wait to run more of these parties this year, and is looking into running a regular Painting and Prosecco night at a local venue.

Competition Winning Artist for Learning Disability Week 2017

10/10/2017

*Competition winner, Dele, being presented with his T-shirt printed with his artwork*

A talented resident from an East London residential home for adults with learning disabilities, won a local competition to create a spectacular piece of art to promote a Learning Disability Week Celebration Event in the London borough of Newham. The winning artist, Dele, created an abstract artwork in pastel, that was printed on T-shirts and presented to him at the launch party of the event at Stratford Circus Arts Centre on 29 June 2017.

Community Artist, Elaine Harper-Gay, who delivers art sessions at the small residential home where the young artist is a resident, spoke of how proud she was of his achievement and was thrilled to see him on stage to receive a T-shirt with his very own artwork printed on it. The compères of the stage show also wore the artwork on their T-shirts.

An exhibition of artwork in celebration of Learning Disability Week was on display at Stratford Circus from 16 June – 13 July 2017, where a total of four residents from the residential home also had their work included.

Elaine Harper-Gay has been delivering art sessions to the residential home for 18 months and seen the residents grow and develop throughout this period. The residents have found the art sessions incredibly beneficial and enjoy the variety of ways they are able to express themselves. Congratulations to Dele for winning the competition and the residents who exhibited their work. We’re looking forward to seeing what the residents create next in future art sessions.

Exhibition of artwork from the Learning Disabled community at Stratford Circus

Photography credit: Andrew Baker

Full of Life Fair 2016!

12/06/2016

On the Friday 7^th October 2016 we experienced our first Full of Life Fair at Twickenham Stadium in Twickenham, London and what a fantastic busy event it was! The Full of Life Fair is held at a venue every year and is run by Richmond Council to connect local over 55’s with over 75 local business in the area. The event was a roaring success with over 1200 residents and carers attending the annual event and James and Elaine we’re there on behalf of Creative Minds!

As part of the Creative Minds contribution to the event James and Elaine delivered a morning and afternoon Art Session to 30 participants with many more spectators walking around the table, chatting and watching the artists at work. The participants had a choice between British landscapes and flowers and the choice between using soft pastels or watercolour for their artwork.

Have a look at the wonderful artwork created…

Everyone who attended our sessions by the café thoroughly enjoyed themselves and were keen to attend Art Sessions in the local area. At present, we don’t currently deliver sessions to residents in the Richmond area but watch this space! In early 2017 we hope to be able to deliver regular sessions in the Richmond community with the help of local partners.

Alice in Wonderland

04/13/2016

Its January and its another grey and dreary day in Woking and all I can think about is the tropics, joy and colour for my clients and the creation of a wonderful spring garden indoors!

Then I start thinking about my daughters wedding in May and the hen party I need to organise. She’s an English teacher and loves literature and here we are in the land of Alice, Lewis Carrol was born in Guildford and the world is currently celebrating the 150^th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland being written. Thus what started as an idea for a little window garden display led us down the path to Alices garden!!

In for a penny in for a pound I put forward my idea to Katie at the Park Barn Centre in Guildford, Surrey: An Alice in Wonderland display in time for Easter and what about a Mad Hatters Tea Party?

Yes why not!!! She said.

And so began the transformation of my sitting room into cardboard construction sight and my family never quite knowing which character they would be sharing tea with!

When I proposed the idea to the wonderful folks at the centre they were thrilled and ready and willing to get stuck in to whatever I set before them. Whether it be 5ft cardboard trees; lime green flamingos, pink grinning cats, soldiers made of playing cards, flowers with lion and tiger faces, not to mention all the main characters encountered in the curious of world of Alice in Wonderland, all destined to make up our display.

The Park Barn Four Seasons dementia centre were not to be ignored and embraced the mess and challenges of creating the foliage for the garden, rolling papier mache caterpillar segments and even making crockery for the Mad Hatter himself.

Every session had jubilant reactions for those participating to onlookers, as different characters and parts of the display were completed. There have been wonderful jovial shakes of the head from passers-by at the absolute absurdity, it is Alice in Wonderland after all.

Even the Park Barn Centre staff got involved in the project and throughout the process amongst the organised chaos of tissue paper, acrylic paint, pipe cleaners, clay, card, glue, fabric and fur, Cornelia and I have tried to capture moments from each session as the concept grew. Meanwhile Amanda and other staff continued with cutting hearts and building an army of playing card soldiers and Four Seasons participants soldiered on with creating colourful pompoms, an essential part of wonderland.

After many sessions working on the project the Alice in Wonderland display is now been complete and was launched at the Mad Hatters Tea Easter Feast on Wednesday 23rd March and will be available for all to appreciate in the following weeks.

It was even featured in the Surrey Advertiser…

Some comments from those involved and at the event…

“At our social centres we ensure that visitors have the opportunity to enjoy a whole range of fun and interesting activities. Arts and crafts are very popular and this Easter project provided a brilliant theme for everyone to take part in. The mural is a testament to the creative work of older people and I would like to thank Creative Minds for their involvement in such a worthwhile project.”

Quote from Cllr Tony Rooth, Lead Councillor for Housing and Social Welfare.

“Sarah’s Creative Minds is a wonderful addition to the activities on offer at Park Barn, particularly the long term Alice project that has kept all the service users/clients engaged.”

Amanda, Support Officer

“A year ago you would never have convinced me I would enjoy doing art but now im thoroughly enjoying it.”

Barbara (service user)

Thanks for reading,

Sarah.