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Art of #CovidChat

Posted on June 2021April 2022 by Colin Stevens

A new MarketPlace/ DMJ Imagery Ltd podcast series

For many creative practitioners, the Lockdown period during 2020 and 2021 was both a stressful challenge and a opportunity for experimentation and learning. Inevitably, this has raised questions about what we do, how we do it and most importantly, why we do what we do.

In the Art of #CovidChat, Chatteris based filmmaker and podcast producer, David Johnson (DMJ Imagery) had the idea of hosting ‘creative conversations’ with artists from our Inkling and Connect micro-commissions.

_{Pictured is a photo of David Johnson (DMJ Imagery) with his camera.}

David wanted to explore how artists have coped with transferring their skills and practice to online workshops, digital technology and downloadable resources. He also wanted to discuss how they managed to continue the creative sharing process despite not being able to be in the same physical space as workshop participants.

The podcasts include a great line-up of artists discussing music, writing, digital technology, fine art and performance.

The creative conversations launched on podcast platforms early this summer. Listen to them below.

Listen to the podcast series below:

Episode 1

Read the transcript of Episode 1 here.

_{This episode David Johnson interviews artists Genevieve Rudd and Marian Savill. The topic for this episode is Mixed Media Arts. They discuss:-}

_{Permission to be an artist}
_{Cyanotype & anthotype}
_{The changing of art materials and the impact of recycling}

Read Genevieve’s blog post here.

Read Marian’s blog post here.

Episode 2

Read the transcript for Episode 2 here.

_{David Johnson interviews poet and writer Leanne Moden and writer Belona Greenwood}. _{The topic for this episode is Poetry and Written Word.} _{They discuss:-}

_{Initial process to start writing}
_{The effects of lockdown}
_{Learning new skills during the last year}

_{The challenge:}

_{To write a short poem}
_{Short story about a stone}

Read Leanne’s blog post here.

Read Bel’s blog post here.

Episode 3

Read the transcript for Episode 3 here.

_{This episode, David Johnson interviews environmental artist Kaitlin Ferguson and publisher and illustrator Ric Savage. The topic for this episode is Use of Video in Art Projects. They discuss: –}

_{How they learned to create videos}
_{Their experiences of using videos in their work}
_{Missing the audience engagement}

_{The challenge:}

_{Record the changes of nature using video}
_{Capture something about you}
_{Additional challenge – Film a one-minute elevator pitch}

Read Kaitlin’s blog post here.

Read Ric’s blog post here.

Episode 4

Read the transcript for Episode 4 here.

_{This episode, David Johnson interviews singer/ music leader Sally Rose and artist Michelle Brace.} _{The topic for this episode is Music and Technology.} _{They discuss:-}

_{What is VJ-ing?}
_{Music and Mental Health}
_{Folk music in the Fenland area}

_{The challenge:}

_{Go for a walk and listen to the rhythm of your feet as you move}
_{Get two images – patterns/textures and digitally blend them or collage them.}

Read Sally’s blog post here.

Read Michelle’s blog post here.

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The Story of Molly Whuppie with Marion Leeper

Posted on May 2021September 2021 by Colin Stevens

_{A photo of Marion in a glittering tent telling a story to four small children.}

Marion answered our Inkling & Connect call-out last year with a problem she wanted to try and solve.

The problem? How could Marion take the interactive fun and learning from a playgroup setting and transfer it to the flat screen of Zoom and YouTube?

It was certainly a challenge and we were keen to support Marion. Take a look at the first part of her Molly Whuppie story.

As she says about her first video story:

“The Bridge of One Hair that I’ve had to cross, was the big move to telling stories online. Live storytelling in the early years is a conversation. Young children respond to stories with their whole bodies: not just joining in with actions and rhymes, but pointing, laughing, moving the props around, deciding how the characters are feeling and what they had for breakfast.

I had to take a leaf out of Mollie Whuppie’s book, and make a virtue of a small screen.“

_{A photo of Marion’s makeshift set at home using household objects.}

Marion persevered, tried out techniques and collaborated to bring in film skills.

“I struggled to learn so many things – lighting, set-building, framing. Then my film-buddy and mentor, Inés Alvarez Villa, came on the scene. Working remotely, she patiently taught me how to focus a shot, film close-up sequences of props and many other skills.”

You can read about Marion’s experience in her recent blog here.

If you are interested in finding out more about the use of storytelling in Early Years learning contact Marion via her website.

Here are the rest of the Molly Whuppie adventure series.

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#SeeYouSoon!

Posted on April 2021April 2022 by Colin Stevens

Developed with support from public funding by Department of Culture, Media and Sport. We spent March, April and May 2021 exploring creative ways to address loneliness and social isolation resulting from the impact of Covid-19.

We threw the obvious title “The Loneliness Project” out the window. After a year of near-constant lockdown we felt it was important to offer people a more positive outlook. How could we help people break out of their ‘bubbles’ in a fun, colourful and positive manner?

After not been able to see or touch their families and friends for a year people needed a sense of real connection. What better way to make meaningful contact than with the simple forgotten Art of Writing? In a world of mobile phones, email, text and WhatsApp, how many of us take the time to put a pen to paper?

The #See You Soon pack of postcards was designed to encourage people to send creative messages and ideas to family members, friends and neighbours.

We took time to have our now familiar “creative conversations” with a diverse range of contacts who are working with families, seniors, young people and people who are experiencing isolation across Fenland and West Suffolk. We worked with community leaders and creative practitioners who understood how their localities and neighbourhoods had been affected by the pandemic.

Connecting is what #See You Soon was all about – making a move to do something positive. Smile, Reach Out & Say Hello! Our new See You Soon section of the website is coming soon!

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A Spell for Understanding by Fenland Young Carers

Posted on March 2021July 2021 by Alice Cramer

_{Watch the Spell for Understanding video presented by Centre 33.}

A SPELL FOR STANDING IN ANOTHER’S SHOES

Stir with a spoon and drink in the first light of dawn.

Take the sight of an owl on a long-distance flight

The sound of Gorillas, chest-beating at night

The companionship of one hundred dogs

The patience of badgers who cross roads in the fog

Inside this spell is the shape of our days

All that we are, not all that we say,

This spell must include all that is true,

So stir in a unicorn’s miracle horn,

the noble heart of a lion, the smile of a snake

A giraffe’s dream of the stars

And make no mistake,

Most important of all, hidden away,

a spider’s web, broken, and mended again.

Drink our potion, hear our spell, look us in the eye

Put on our shoes and walk by our side.

_{These screenshots from the video show the young carers taking part in art activities during these Zoom sessions with the artists.}

We commissioned artist Hilary Cox Condron to collaborate with a group of young carers and Centre 33, Cambridgeshire charity supporting young people. Together they did creative activities and tried different artforms with guest artists Bel Greenwood, Dan Donovan and MarketPlace Creative Agent Colin Stevens. Their responses became a poem, expressive paintings and a short film that was shared as part of Young Carers Action Day on 16 March 2021.

Amanda at Centre 33 said about the project:

“The art project has been amazing and having the opportunity to work with some amazing talented people has been really inspiring for the Young Carers. We can’t thank Hilary, Colin, Bel and Dan enough for their great work in putting together the film clip for Young Carers Action Day. The reaction to the clip from parents and the Young Carers was “wonderful”. The clip has also been shown in school by some Young Carers Champions. Thank you to everyone involved.

The Young Carers wanted their voices heard about what it is like for them, what their life is like and what qualities they have which they carry forward into their day to day work.

The Young Carers produced some wonderful art work, drawing and painting. They got to look at animation, putting clips together with sound effects as well as working with a writer to put together a spell/poem to get their voices heard. Hilary, Colin, Bel and Dan were so good with the Young People, they engaged them, gave them confidence and really inspired them to continue with Art in its different forms. I am feeling so proud with what they have achieved, that they worked so hard and we’re really pleased with the end results – their engagement has been brilliant.

We have Young Carers that have grown in confidence thanks to everyone. Young Carers that at first wouldn’t have their cameras on as they were shy and then they completed sessions with the camera on and enjoyed showing their art pieces. We had a Young Carer that was so quiet she didn’t speak to them by the end of the sessions she was chatting most of the time in the session and putting across her views more in speech.

Excellent Project, amazing people I look forward to the next one.”

Thanks to Emily, Erin, Pheobe, Lennon, Paige, Kezia, Amber and Sophie

Supported by Centre 33 Amanda Cawthorne and Richard Cross

Creative Producer: Hilary Cox Condron

Film maker: Colin Stevens – Theatricx

Guest artists: Dan Donovan and Bel Greenwood

The Book Cover Club – ever judged a book by its cover?

Posted on November 2020November 2021 by Colin Stevens

Richard approached us in Lockdown 1 with the idea of creating a series of talks about the world of book publishing and cover design art. So many arts activities were moving online and we needed to decide how best to launch this subject matter. Should it be a live online video workshop? Or short videos that could offer themselves as inspirational talking points?

https://youtu.be/RJ-kN4BWSnA

_{In this trailer video, artists and publisher Richard Savage explains his short video series called ‘Judging a Book by it’s Cover’.}

Exploring the various options we agreed with Richard to try the recorded video series format with the added action of inviting viewers to upload their sketches and design ideas to the discussion threads in Facebook, Instagram and social media platforms.

This is a new experiment for both Richard and MarketPlace. We would like to thank Richard for his patience and willingness to explore with us.

You can find the short series of Videos in the Facebook Group – The Book Cover Club

Each video goes live at 8pm on Monday 23rd, Weds 25th and Friday 27th November. Our hope is that viewers will join in the fun by uploading their own artwork and ideas. You can also offer website links to connect with others both in our region and elsewhere – this is the new digital world after all!

Visit the Facebook Group to join in the creative conversation, upload your own designs and ideas and start to create your own book covers for favourite books or even those that need writing!

Workshop One – Monday 23rd November

Richard takes us through the best and the worst book covers.

https://youtu.be/BkS09WA03Pw

Join the #BookCoverClub to let us know your favourite and least favourite book covers.

Workshop Two – Wednesday 25th November

In this video, Richard explains how book covers for famous books have changed according to the times (with a focus on George Orwell’s most famous book).

Share your book cover creations on the #BookCoverClub Facebook group – we’d love to see what you come up with.

Workshop Three – Friday 27th November

Richard takes us throught the process of creating a book cover from scratch to the finished product. Taking his favourite genre – children’s book illustration – Richard shows us how he approaches a book cover, designed to attract readers.

If you are on Facebook and would like to take part CLICK HERE and join the conversation. See you there!

Image reads "Featured on #ArtOfCovidChat podcast series. Click here to listen."

Listen to Ric’s podcast episode from the series #ArtOfCovidChat here where he discusses the challenges and triumphs through lockdown with artist Kaitlin Ferguson.

#LetsTakeAWalk with Genevieve Rudd

Posted on November 2020March 2024 by Alice Cramer

Part of our Creative Conversations in Isolation programme.

Artist Genevieve Rudd approached MarketPlace with the idea of a workshop that would connect people, using creative activities to explore their surroundings outside.

The Walk’n’Craft Group, based in Mildenhall, and the Can’t Sing Choir, based in March, were keen to get involved. Everyone loved the idea of getting together in a way that was socially distanced (in line with the government restrictions at the time), but still enabled them to meet and socialise.

On Friday 30th October 2020, Genevieve sent prompts via WhatsApp to both groups throughout their walks. She set creative activities which encouraged everyone to take time to look more closely, listen to and feel their surroundings and think about the landscape they were in. After a well deserved break, everyone came together to meet via Zoom. Genevieve shared the photos, videos and creations made during their walks in a Powerpoint presentation.

Download the PDF version of the activity sheet here.

When asked if the groups enjoyed the session, they were all positive about the experience. They were particularly pleased to try something different.

_{^{What did you enjoy and what will you take away from the session?}}
“Doing something different and way out of my comfort zone. Words are my comfort and drawing was really my discomfort but I enjoyed it. [I will be] taking away the idea that I have grandchildren in different countries, and we could all do them [the activities] together, so that was grand.”

The workshop was an interesting experiment for Genevieve and the MarketPlace team. Using a platform like WhatsApp to bring different groups together at the same time was new for us, and came from a need to find alternative ways to connect during the pandemic.

You can read about Genevieve’s experience and what she learned from the project in her new blog post here.

Exercise: Draw a map of the route where you have walked.

^{Exercise: Drawings Sounds – March Can’t Sing Choir Group (top & bottom right), WalknCraft Group (top & bottom left).}

Click through to the Flickr album to take a closer look at the gallery of their other creations, photos and videos here.

Listen to Genevieve’s podcast episode from the series #ArtOfCovidChat here where she discusses the challenges and triumphs through lockdown with fellow artist Marian Savill.

Writing the Landscape and a touch of FenScaping…

Posted on September 2020January 2022 by Lorna O'Brien

FenScapers- Writers inspired by landscape. A groups of people with umbrellas to protect from the bright sun, make their way through “Madeleine’s Patch” – an open field of natural wild Fenland flowers.

The FenScapers writing group are currently preparing to launch their first venture into the world of podcasts. Reading their own writing with original music composed by Chris Ellis.

Originally called ‘Writing the Landscape’, the group has continued to meet online throughout 2020 and has explored poetry, short stories and dialogues, sharing their thoughts and experiences of nature during the first Lockdown and the ongoing pandemic situation.

During 2020 many people rediscovered a connection with the landscape and environment around them. Daily walks and gardening began to become the “new norm” for many people. It was this that inspired the writing group

As part of our Creative Conversations in Isolation commissions programme, writer Bel Greenwood facilitated an online space for people to share their discoveries through writing and to be inspired by the Fenland landscape. Using her wide range of experience, Bel encouraged writers of all levels to find and celebrate their voice.

“Fen. One New Year’s Day, in deep frost, teasels shining in the watery light of early morning, I scrunched my way along the bank, revelling in the crispness of the air, the sunlight filtering through the rising mist.” Paul

“Dear Robin. If I’d only sat up and taken the time to smell the damp earth and appreciated the beauty of my garden instead of considering my work a trial to endure, things could have been different.” Jacqui Fairfax

The writers are continuing to explore their ‘writing voices’ and are considering where the body of work that they create will lead them. MarketPlace has been pleased to watch the writing group develop their writing skills but also their ability to think about how to reach out to others across the region.

You can read some of the writing on the groups new blogsite – Leaping The Lockdown – which is all about nature, our relationship with it and the changes the writers have noticed in themselves and the world around them.

VISIT Leaping the Lockdown

Read an article about the project in The Local View, online magazine for Cambridgeshire

Speaking Tubes with Emily Godden

Posted on September 2020May 2022 by Lorna O'Brien

As part of our Creative Conversations in Isolation programme, we commissioned creative technologist, Emily Godden to test her idea of using technology to connect people. She was inspired by the speaking tubes at Ickworth House. Similar to an intercom, speaking tubes allowed people on different floors of the house to communicate with each other.

Emily developed the idea by creating a gadget connected to a phone number and we asked people to tell us their #LockdownGuiltyPleasure’ – what got you through lockdown?

Emily worked with Brandon Creative Forum and set things up at The Hare Salon in Brandon. Customers and visitors at the salon were asked the question and sent their answers to the phone number. The answers showed on a scrolling text display. Here’s how it turned out…

*_{Jill from Brandon Creative Forum and Emily with her light box at the The Hare Salon with owner, Craig.}*

Over the few days Speaking Tubes ran, we had over 50 responses from visitors to The Hare Salon and on social media.

The project got people thinking and talking about their lockdown experiences, good and bad. Something that really came across was the importance of small moments, little things that were noticed and appreciated more than ever.

What was your #LockdownGuiltyPleasure?

Neelie – “Have to admit food has been mine. Went on to 4 meals
a day and as soon as I had finished one meal was thinking about the next.”

Lorna – “the days we had shopping delivered have become very exciting”

Desiree – “Jane Austen adaptations of persuasion, discovered the 1940 version of pride and prejudice, Indian styled bride and prejudice. Meditation, yoga, going for walks, reading my sons’ book Skyward, singing and dancing around the house”

Hayley – “Wine, mostly.”

Lorna – “well I didn’t mention the cocktails but yeah, we’ve learned some new ones”

Siobhan – “I read a great book called belleweather rhapsody by Kate Racculia”

Desiree – “German cake. It is Zwetschgen – plum season”

Ali – “Gherkins and Cadbury Wholenut!”

Anna – “Working with some amazing people! Rediscovering our beautiful local parks & green spaces and a more local community feel – feel blessed”

Louise – “G&T”

Nigel – “Eating 5 meals a day!”

Tim – “A larger glass!”

Alice – “My cat Jeeves, I adopted him at the start of lockdown and now I can’t imagine my life without him now!”

Lorna – “I have to say telly has been a big one – 2 seasons of The Rockford Files and watching Dr Who from the ninth to twelfth doctors has been ace!”

Leanne – “Books, finally learning to cook curry from scratch, and buying a new bicycle!”

The Fens Mag – “The hope that lockdown will end soon!”

Emily – “Puppies!”

Roger – “Gardening”

Sophie – “Being in my garden”

Jack – “Home improvements and games”

Patrick – “Fish and chips…and curry sauce”

Regina – “Reading old favourite books (again!)”

Claire – “Fancy Dress Quiz nights with the family and all the beach walks”

Geniveve – “I have to agree with Jack – DIYing, painting, upcycling and having a good clear out has been cathartic!”

Dom – “Cadbury’s Giant Chocolate Buttons… at least a bag a week”

Holly – “Trying out new arty activities and making/eating lemon drizzle cake”

Julie – “Good people”

Brandon Gallery Hub, Virtual Exhibition with Lee Mason

Posted on September 2020May 2022 by Lorna O'Brien

On Thursday 17th September 2020, Brandon Arts Society, Brandon Creative Forum and the MarketPlace team celebrated the 40th Anniversary of Brandon Arts Society with a virtual exhibition preview.

As part of our Creative Conversations in Isolation programme, we commissioned Lee to make a 3D virtual gallery for the exhibition. Using Mozilla Hubs Spoke, digital artist, Lee Mason curated the Art Society’s art work to create a wonderful exhibition experience, complete with wine, nibbles and Brandon’s infamous bunny. There’s also a beautiful roof-top garden, celebrating Brandon in Bloom.

You can visit the virtual gallery online – explore the exhibition space here.

Watch a short tour of the gallery below.

A new MarketPlace/ DMJ Imagery Ltd podcast series

Listen to the podcast series below:

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Amanda at Centre 33 said about the project:

Workshop One – Monday 23rd November

Richard takes us through the best and the worst book covers.

Workshop Two – Wednesday 25th November

In this video, Richard explains how book covers for famous books have changed according to the times (with a focus on George Orwell’s most famous book).

Workshop Three – Friday 27th November

Richard takes us throught the process of creating a book cover from scratch to the finished product. Taking his favourite genre – children’s book illustration – Richard shows us how he approaches a book cover, designed to attract readers.

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