Thursday 2 October 2014

A big thank you to Marcela at St Andrews Healthcare in Birmingham. She worked tirelessly to ensure that my artwork was utilised in ways I had intended, while it was on display there. The artwork was installed on 27 August and was taken down on 30 September. Early on I talked about the impetus behind the making of it with an assembled group of patients, their escorts, and St Andrews professionals. Following the talk, a lively and often deeply moving, conversation ensued, with patients sharing their thoughts and ideas gleaned from interpreting the artwork as it related to their own lives and experiences.

I was privileged to have been invited to join Marcela in her art room, along with a couple of patients, as they embarked on the production of their own artwork in response to what they had felt and thought from both viewing my artwork, and from our conversations. One person had the idea to make a three dimensional house, where the front and sides appear 'normal', complete with flower boxes on either side of the door. However, behind the front facade, a volcano is in the process of erupting. The work, although not complete when I saw it, was very powerful. Images of this and other artwork will be posted soon.

Routes of Sorrow was display in the Multi-faith Room. Marcela on the left.