Arts Together

Pewsey Mosaics on Show

2012-01-12T15:07:00.000Z

The stunning mosaics made by the Pewsey Arts Together group - see Blog item below - are now on show at The Gallery in Pewsey.

16 High Street, Pewsey, Wiltshire SN9 5AQ

Telephone 01672 562349

Opening Times 10am - 4pm

Monday - Saturday

Email madeinwiltshire@thepactcentre.org.uk

Mosaic Trees by Pewsey Group

2012-01-05T12:15:00.004Z

click on image to enlarge

see more of Joanna's projects at www.dewfallmosaic.co.uk

2011-12-20T12:49:00.000Z

Very best seasonal wishes to all Arts Together; members, artists, volunteers, workers, colleagues, supporters, friends and anyone reading this.

Pot Throwing before High Tea in Devizes

2011-12-14T16:49:00.000Z

Using lovely red earthenware clay, the Devizes group enjoyed throwing their first pot on the wheel. It was a muddy business but there was loads of laughing and surprised looks when the clay in their hands suddenly changed from spinning blob to recognizable bowl...!

The group also made some very beautiful cake stands, using slabs of flattened clay, decorated with colourful liquid clay (slip) and 'sgraffitto' and put together with professional steel components to give a gorgeous vintage look.

The final session, after we had put together our cake stands, involved some rigorous testing of the functionality of the bowls and cake stands - in other words we had a marvellous tea party with the most grand and gracious cake stands that looked fit for the Queen, were briefly adorned with all manner of delicious cakes and pies. Functional and aesthetically pleasing, what more could we ask for...?

Jane Johnson

Sgraffito: A technique where a top layer of colour is scratched to reveal a colour beneath. The term comes from the Italian word sgraffire meaning (literally) "to scratch".

The moods and feelings of the Marlborough Group

2011-10-31T21:26:00.000Z

This term the Marlborough group explored textile art and we looked at a wide range of styles and approaches to this artform. The group used moods and feelings as their starting point with themes as diverse as hope, clarity, calmness, anger and horror! It was wonderful to see such a vigorous response to a project and the results were fantastic.

Thanks for all your enthusiasm!

Belinda

Mask Making At Arts Together Pewsey

2011-10-31T21:14:00.000Z

For the last five weeks members of the Pewsey Arts Together group have been finding out what it’s like to wear a mask they have made out of basic materials, including cardboard, paint and feathers.

There were a wide variety of masks, from a Halloween theme, to go-go dancers, animals and more abstract designs. We play acted roles and took on new personalities. Every mask was unique and individuality was encouraged. Gold, glitter and coloured feathers appealed at first and later on spooky designs from the underworld took shape.

Sarah

Paintings from Devizes

2011-10-31T21:06:00.000Z

The Devizes group have been painting with Anna. These designs are based on a letter of the alphabet. They loved doing it and would like to make them into greetings cards. Watch this space!

Report into arts with older people

2011-10-31T21:00:00.016Z

A recent report has been published by The Art Into Life programme which is a partnership between the Tate Modern community learning programme and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

The report draws upon and uses material written by Whittington Consultants for Arts Together and we get a substantial mention on pages 26 - 28.

You can read the full report here.

The Taste of Bengal

2011-10-04T18:12:00.004+01:00

We managed to eat our way to £531.50 on Sunday. The Devizes restaurant donated its profits from Sunday’s trading to Arts Together and our supporters travelled from as far as Cirencester to boost the day’s takings. Huge thanks to everyone who turned out. It’s a great help for Arts Together and our members.

Also a big thank you to Omar and his team for great food, hard work and their generosity

Karolyne

‘We had a lovely time and the service and food were excellent.’

‘Just a quick word to say how we enjoyed our meal yesterday. It was very congenial, staff were lovely and the food delicious.’

‘Had a great evening at The Taste of Bengal – really great supper’

‘Brilliant - we really enjoyed the food and company! a jolly good idea’

57/58 New Park Street, Devizes SN10 1DP
01380 725649 or 01380 727997

Donate cash to Arts Together without giving us any money!!!

2011-10-04T18:10:00.000+01:00

Simply register on the Easyfundraising website and every time you shop online at your favourite retailers, Arts Together gets a donation - at no cost to you. You get the same discount offers and can use voucher codes as usual. Just remember to log in to Easyfundraising first and follow the site links to: Sainsburys, Amazon, M&S, Ebay, O2, Tesco and 1000s of other popular stores.

Follow this link to register now and support Arts Together for FREE!

A small gesture from you can make a big difference to an older person in Wiltshire.

Thank you

Pop-up Books at Pewsey

2011-09-07T10:59:00.000+01:00

Thank you to the Pewsey group for a lively and enthusiastic summer term. The group wrote their own fables and illustrated and constructed pop-up books.

Every member confidently stated that they couldn’t possibly write a fable at the start of the term and yet produced some really outstanding stories and vibrant illustrations. The end results surprised and I think pleased everyone.

And the moral of the story is… you never know what’s possible unless you try!

Belinda

Devizes Group exhibit at Festival of Quilts

2011-09-07T10:44:00.000+01:00

I recently visited the Festival of Quilts at the NEC in Birmingham. Hundreds of beautiful, individual, expressive quilts hung on the walls for the world to see. Right by the entrance to the exhibition was a quilt entitled ‘When I Grow Old’.

This quilt was the result of weeks of hard work from the Devizes Arts Together Group and expressed their lighthearted thoughts and feelings about growing older with style and humour. At times the exhibit gathered a fair crowd around it with visitors reading out quotes to each other. I greatly enjoyed facilitating this project that at times stretched and challenged everyone! For me this quilt is particularly poignant as, since it was created, two of the members are no longer with the group. They are sadly missed but their contribution both to the group and to this quilt will live on.

Belinda

Do you like Indian food and want to raise funds for your favourite charity?

2011-08-31T11:47:00.000+01:00

Do you ever shop online?

2011-07-06T13:21:00.001+01:00

Then please read this and raise money for Arts Together at no cost to you!

It’s called easyfundraising. Notice the flashing banner above this blog. It’s the easiest way to help raise money for Arts Together! If you already shop online with retailers such as Amazon, M&S, Argos, John Lewis, Comet, Tesco, Sainsburys, Vodafone, eBay, Boden and Play.com, then we need you to sign up for free to raise money while you shop!

So how does it work?

You shop directly with the retailer as you would normally, but if you sign up to http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/artstogether for free and use the links on the easyfundraising site to take you to the retailer, then a percentage of whatever you spend comes directly to us at no extra cost to yourself.

How much can you raise?

Spend £100 with M&S online or Amazon and you raise £2.50 for us. £100 with WH Smith puts £2.00 in our pocket and so on. There's over 2,000 retailers on their site, and some of the donations can be as much as 15% of your purchase.

Save money too!

easyfundraising is FREE to use plus you'll get access to hundreds of exclusive discounts and voucher codes, so not only will you be helping us, you’ll be saving money yourself.

Sign up at http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/artstogether and start making a difference...simply by shopping as usual.

Thanks!

Karolyne, Jeff and Trustees

Cezanne at Marlborough

2011-07-05T18:03:00.023+01:00

These are paintings in acrylics made by the Marlborough group during the last 5 weeks. We decided to try and copy the work of Cezanne using his techniques and style. It was harder then we expected, and resulted in much studied concentration and just a little frustration for some. However the results are amazing and varied, and reflect the unique approach and personality of the group member who painted each picture.

The sessions were intense and the laughter at lunchtime - loud! Lots of fun and some great artworks.

See them all on the website at marlborough art gallery

Marlborough recipes online

2011-07-03T18:03:00.003+01:00

Prints and designs based on favourite recipes are now accessible on the Arts Together website or by following this link. Group members also have individual recipe cards and a poster print of all 12 designs.

Award from Devizes Lions Club

2011-07-03T15:53:00.007+01:00

At the Devizes Lions Club’s presentation evening at the town hall Mayor Sue Evans presented cheques totalling more than £11,000 to 60 organisations. First time recipients included the increasingly successful girls’ teams of Potterne Cricket Club and Arts Together, which runs arts projects for elderly, vulnerable people. Karolyne, seated third from right in the front row, collected our award of £250.

Drumming up a storm in Devizes

2011-06-17T11:29:00.005+01:00

The Devizes group were joined by Charlie (Sainey) Camera from the Gambia on Tuesday and enjoyed making some noise. And why not?

Not sure I have the words to describe the session – hilarious!

Karolyne

Light graffiti

2011-06-14T15:46:00.026+01:00

Marlborough turned its hands to a spot of graffiti. They had seen some pictures of light art performance photography - a one-shot time bulb exposure capturing an entire performance of movement traced with colourful light.

Impressed – you can make graffiti and leave no trace! So we had a go.

We used torches covered with coloured tissue to produce different coloured light, and drew all the curtains. I’m afraid the perpetrators could easily be identified due to the noise and giggling.

With detailed, carefully synchronised choreography, small groups carried out their light performance. i.e. they attempted to wave their torches in the same direction at the same time. After a few false starts, we had lift off and some great results wonderfully captured by Julia. There was a slight degeneration, sorry, extended experimentation, as members explored the concepts of ‘does she like butter?’ and ‘does this make me look like a ghoul?’ Yes to both.

Many thanks to everyone for the great sense of adventure.

Karolyne

Painting - experiments with colour

2011-06-10T13:01:00.025+01:00

Marlborough members had a quick tour of colour theory, looking at what colour does to us and what we can do with colour. Next session they were set a brain teaser – paint a landscape with three colours maximum, and NO MIXING. They were experimenting with how colours interact and how they could construct a picture with colour alone.

The group, usually like starlings, worked in near silence. As one member said, ‘I thought this abstract stuff was simple but it’s so, so difficult’.

And another ‘I remember that picture you showed and how the artist made it come alive – look it works!’

The results are impressive – the first attempt by most to tackle a problem like this – and shows the vast choice there is in presenting a view out of the same window.

Karolyne

Design with colour at Marlborough

2011-05-18T16:34:00.000+01:00

“Colour is the keyboard, the eyes are the harmonies, the soul is the piano with many strings. The artist is the hand that plays, touching one key or another, to cause vibrations in the soul”

Wassily Kandinsky

“I advise students on the subject of color as follows: If it looks good enough to eat, use it”

Abe Ajay

“I found I could say things with colour and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for”

Georgia O'Keeffe

“Why do two colours, put one next to the other, sing? Can one really explain this? No. Just as one can never learn how to paint”

Pablo Picasso

Enthusiasm for mosaics in Pewsey

2011-05-18T15:47:00.000+01:00

We thought about doing a mosaic forest - saving woodlands was in the news - by each making a tree with a connecting landscape running behind each one and then joining them up as a frieze but that idea got put aside for another time. So everybody developed their own ideas for personal pieces: patterns, a butterfly, a dove, an apple which turned out to look more like a tomato or was it a strawberry in the end! June has also been busy making mosaics at home and brought two stunning pigs to show us. Beryl joined us briefly to finish her mosaic that she started at Marlborough. Lots of creativity and fun.

Joanna

Arts Together on the radio - again!!

2011-03-17T18:27:00.000Z

Mark O'Donnell from the morning show on BBC Radio Wiltshire followed up his earlier interview with Karolyne by visiting the Marlborough Group last Monday. His report and brilliant interviews with the members is something not to be missed. Listen here Interview No 2

Colour and texture

2011-03-17T16:15:00.002Z

Following the success of the colour workshop with the Devizes group the previous week I decided to try and take it a step further and explore texture through textiles.

Despite the recent shake-up over travel funding cuts and understandable concern from everyone the group threw themselves into the project and produced some lovely free experimental samples. We are hoping to build on this over the coming weeks to incorporate text, colour and texture into an artwork.

Watch this space.

Thanks to all the Devizes members for providing such a lovely warm welcome again!

Belinda

From members of Arts Together - Devizes

2011-03-16T17:39:00.000Z

We the members of Devizes Arts Together need our transport to continue not only for our present members but all the older people who will want to join us in the future. Without our transport we have no future and will return to our isolation and boredom.

Arts Together is something that once you start you don’t want to stop. I’ve learnt so much and got so much pleasure and fulfilment. I do feel fulfilled. I’ve done so many things I never thought I could. It’s the getting out and meeting people. Its relaxing and fun. My mind is sharper. I’m more relaxed and able to take part in conversations about things I never did before. I know it keeps us healthier.

Without Arts Together I wouldn’t meet people. I’ve done things I wouldn’t have done. I didn’t go to school like most people when I was a child and love learning things. I love people. I try to dig them out of their rooms (at the residential home) and get them to come along too. Arts Together has made me more confident. God led me here.

Arts Together is therapeutic, it keeps you going. I’ve always loved drawing and now I can do that and lots more. I feel I can express myself here. It would be very dull without Arts Together. We laugh and have fun.

It’s like a family, you stick to it. I get so much out of it. It’s the companionship – you get to know people with the same likes. And we do enjoy our lunches.

It’s opened up a whole new vista. I know I have a tunnel vision – I see things all organised and orderly – I didn’t know I could do whizzy pictures too. I’m so proud.

You can get together as a group and you achieve things you never thought you could. When you are older you need things to expand your mind, to see that you can still achieve things. Some people when they get old they just give up.

It’s appalling what they waste money on but can’t help us a little bit. All our lives we’ve given to society. It’s not much to ask to help now that we are old, to give a little back.

It’s a sign of what society is like, isn’t it? How it treats its older people. Maybe they should think of their own elderly relations. Wouldn’t they like to know they had somewhere to go?”

BBC Wiltshire Radio Interview

2011-03-15T09:49:00.005Z

If you missed the radio interview with Karolyne by Mark O'Donnell on BBC Radio Wiltshire last Friday, you can still listen to it here Interview

Arts Together through the eyes of a group member

2011-03-14T19:53:00.000Z

I am 76 years old and live independently in sheltered housing here in Marlborough. On any day of the week I may spend 23 out of the 24 hours on my own with my TV, radio, crosswords and crocheting.

The entertainments and social occasions offered by my place of residence are: Afternoon tea (no cakes or biscuits except on very special occasions such as 90th birthdays) on Monday's. Bingo in-house on alternate Thursday afternoons. Cards (always Newmarket played with a store of coppers reserved for the purpose) on alternate Thursdays. Fish and chip lunch once a month on a Friday. Those of us who wish for Spiritual care meet in the library once a month when we receive Communion from a member of the local Church.

Several times a year, outings to places or events of interest are arranged, and here lies the heart of my plea for continuation of the provision for myself and my friends to have transport to Arts Together at Lawrence Acre. Without specially adapted transport I cannot get out at all. Several of my friends, although more able- bodied than myself, have difficulty walking any distance and find it impossible to negotiate the steps on public service buses.

As a result of all these factors, allied to disabilities that tend to promote a degree of depression brought on by isolation and boredom we lead very restricted lives, often unable to accompany family or friends to joint celebrations etc.

Arts Together gives us a very special something to look forward to almost every Monday of the year. The guests and volunteers are younger, very enthusiastic and encouraging. We are enabled to experiment with activities we may not have attempted before. Some of our efforts produce much-needed laughter, others provide us with new ongoing interests.

Added to the above, we spend several hours in the company of people who want to be there and enjoy one another's company. Instead of cold sandwiches and cuppasoup we enjoy a well prepared nourishing two-course lunch at a very affordable cost.

When we return home, if we relax into an afternoon nap (as befits our age) it is not because we are lonely or bored, but because we have used our energies to enjoy ourselves and may even have some worthwhile, useful or decorative item to bring home that will provide a fresh talking point with one's rare visitors.

I am convinced that Arts Together contributes to the health and welfare of its members. Paying for our transport will be much cheaper than providing hospital care for individuals who have lost the will to live because they can neither use public transport nor afford the expense of private taxis.

NB. There are no Marlborough based taxi firms that are wheelchair friendly!

Sent from my iPad by Marion

Arts charity threat in Devizes, Marlborough and Pewsey

2011-03-13T16:37:00.004Z

Read the cuts article from the local paper here This is Wiltshire or download and print a PDF version here

Mosaic's on show

2011-03-12T18:40:00.001Z

The mosaics made by the Marlborough Group are now on show and I have heard that the tea and cake is pretty good also!

Cobbs Farm Shop
Highclose Farm, Bath Road, Hungerford, RG17 0SP

www.cobbsfarmshop.co.uk

Cut's Blog Prayer

2011-03-12T18:11:00.002Z

Something from Patrick Butler's Cuts Blog on The Guardian website:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/patrick-butler-cuts-blog/2011/mar/09/church-leaders-pray-for-victims-of-cuts

Fine Words

2011-03-12T17:21:00.006Z

A few selected extracts from some of the letters written by Arts Together supporters and some of the replies they got:

"Many small organisations, that provide essential and life changing services, manage to scrape by through a miraculous blend of commitment, passion, fund-raising and volunteers. They are now finding that even the smallest assistance they were able to get through the local authorities is being withdrawn. This may well be the last straw for organisations that have been struggling to maintain services for years." Julia Warin - Trustee

"Arts Together is a very small charity, but to the isolated older people who attend our groups, it is a lifeline. It has to be seen to be believed how much vivacity and enthusiasm the weekly groups generate in those who might otherwise be looking only towards a lonely decline. Our older generation deserve better." Julia Warin - Trustee

"I could not agree more that organisations like yours not only immeasurably enrich the lives of those who take part but also do their bit to help the public finances by prolonging independence and reducing dependence on health and social services. That, in fact, is what the Big Society is all about - celebrating, encouraging and rewarding volunteerism." John Glen - MP for Salisbury

"The council leadership recently held a series of public budget presentations across the county at which it was promised that both the overall spend on contributions to charitable and voluntary organisations and on subsidised bus routes were to be maintained at current levels for at least the next three years, while spending on adult social care was to double." John Glen - MP for Salisbury

"This is in a climate where we are reliant on charitable funds from trusts whose income has declined as a result of the recession and where increasingly we are competing against charities which have previously been funded from statutory sources. In over 20 years of fund-raising I don’t think I have ever been faced by such a dismal proposition. It doesn’t have to be like this." Margaret Cleverley - Volunteer Fund-raiser

"The Government has decided to prioritise the NHS, schools, security, and the infrastructure that will help our economy grow. But in order to do so, savings must be made elsewhere. As far as possible, these savings will be made through improvements in efficiency – but the Government has had to make some difficult decisions too. Budgets from all Government and local Government departments are being cut in order to save money." Edward Nurick - Parliamentary Researcher

"Your financial cuts have just resulted in Wiltshire Council cutting all the transport to my mum’s group. She has dementia and the stimulation she gets from attending this group seems to improve her mental functioning – there is neuro-science involved, something to do with pleasure hormones improving the firing of neurones. Please rethink your cuts to Wiltshire Council – don’t tell me it’s their choice what they cut – they’re your cuts." Janet - daughter of group member

Karolyne's Radio interview - listen now

2011-03-11T18:45:00.002Z

For those few who were not glued to their radios all Friday morning, you can catch up by going to:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00f5rjj/Mark_ODonnell_11_03_2011

Modern art brings colour to Devizes and "cuts" of a different kind

2011-03-10T13:08:00.004Z

Devizes had their first science lesson at Arts Together - a very short one - looking at colour and how it works. They then took a quick tour around Turner, Kandinsky, Matisse, Adrian Searle (who made them feel wobbly) and Bridget Riley. They then looked at colour painting with scissors, light graffiti, balloons, fabric and glass.

Inspired, they took to paper and scissors to create their own Bridget Riley/Matisse's and an amazing collection it is. One member was particularly proud, saying she knew she was stuck in 'tunnel vision' and was so proud that she could now do 'whizzy' pictures too. Another said, 'That's amazing - its really opened my eyes'

If you want to know more about Bridget Riley, she currently is showing work at the National Gallery in London. For an insight into Henri Matisse and his cut-out pictures look here.

Media coverage update on cuts to services

2011-03-09T09:48:00.005Z

Our campaign of voicing our frustration at the local authority cuts targeted at group members has been picked up by the media. The Guardian newspaper has made reference to our situation in an online blog about cuts right across the country. It seems their material came not from the letter we sent them but from placing our "cut" on the Voluntary Sector Cuts website. But it is worth reading the Guardian Blog by Patrick Butler to see how the smallest reduction in local authority support impacts on people's lives. So far the cuts voluntarily posted on the site by those organisations that have taken a hit totals £58million, but the eventual figure could be £3-5billion.

Marlborough Mosaics go on show

2011-03-08T23:15:00.000Z

These mosaic artworks were created from scratch by the group. Our first session consisted of getting to grips with the bits and pieces of mosaic again and everyone made a small 'coaster' to warm up to the idea of making something grander!

Most of the group liked the idea of doing a cut out animal shape. They got down to drawing some ideas, scaling them up large and thinking about how they would fill in their animal. The results are glorious and vary from realistic fur and feathers to wonderfully whimsical psychedelic and tattooed creatures! Jane's Horse and Rose's Terrier are based on photos of their real adored pets while other members created their own versions of a chosen bird or animal.

Two members decided to do their own thing: Arthur has made a house sign and Mary enjoyed working directly into wet cement to decorate a flower pot with broken china - very messy but worth it for the effect! The mosaics are on show until the end of March at -

Cobbs Farm Shop
Highclose Farm
Bath Road, Hungerford, RG17 0SP

www.cobbsfarmshop.co.uk

More of Joanna's own stunning mosaics at www.dewfallmosaic.co.uk

Council makes cuts to Arts Together

2011-02-22T16:29:00.009Z

We have been informed that Wiltshire Council has reassessed members needs and removed the provision of transport for everyone. This puts an increased burden on Karolyne to organise and find funds to get members to the sessions. If you feel strongly about this decision you may want to write to your local MP or to the council directly. I have today sent letters by email to Duncan Hames MP (Chippenham), Claire Perry MP who serves the Arts Together constituency, and Laura Mayes Con Councillor at Wiltshire Council. I also wrote to the Guardian and Telegraph newspapers. Below is a copy of the letter, and below that names and addresses. We need to get ourselves heard and to challenge this serious threat to Arts Together and to all small voluntary organisations like ours.

I help run Arts Together, a small rural charity in Wiltshire that for 10 years has supported isolated older people with creative arts activities and social contacts every week in Pewsey, Marlborough and Devizes. Arts Together is a preventative service. There is sound evidence from research into the kind of work we do, that it promotes health, well-being and independence and counters isolation and depression. Our members tell us how important our service is to them but we believe it also saves money for Wiltshire Council and the NHS, by helping to prevent deterioration and subsequent demand on other services.

From April, 2011 our subsidised transport, which members rely upon, will be withdrawn. Why? Because Wiltshire Council has decided that our members, including those who have dementia or have suffered strokes, wheelchair users and the other older and frail people who depend on Arts Together, are no longer eligible for this minimal support.

We receive no other state support, relying on volunteers and donations and are constantly fund-raising in order to survive. Now these cuts threaten our existence. At best, we will be open only to those that can afford to pay for a taxi and who need minimal help. Most of our members will be excluded and we may not be able to continue. A vital social, creative and emotional lifeline for our members will be lost.

Claire Perry MP
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
claire.perry.mp@parliament.uk

Laura Mayes
48 Roundway
Devizes
SN10 2HX
laura.mayes@wiltshire.gov.uk

Council contacts are on the Wiltshire website.

Screen Printing in Devizes

2011-02-16T17:35:00.008Z

Sarah has just completed 5 weeks of screen printing sessions with the Devizes group. Just like Marlborough and Pewsey they have had lots of fun and learnt a new approach to making art. And in line with the ethos of Arts Together this is an art form that is challenging and requires patience and perseverance.

Screenprint Project at Pewsey and Marlborough

2011-01-02T12:23:00.008Z

"I'm covered in paint, but I really enjoyed that"
Marlborough Group member

Between September and December 2010, Sarah - who usually is a volunteer helper at the Devizes Group - has been leading projects at Pewsey and Marlborough.

Screen-printing as a process is over 1000 years old and originates from China. It was developed in Europe as a commercial printing method during the 18th and 19th centuries, but became widely known as an art form during the 20th century. In the 1960's Andy Warhol popularised the technique with his iconic images of Marilyn Monroe and Campbell's Soup Cans.

So it was an ambitious adventure for the groups to attempt this printing method with limited resources, space and support. But like all Arts Together activities the challenge was taken on with enthusiasm and a desire to have fun. You can see the results for your self by following this link to the Marlborough webpages.

Our thanks must go to Sarah for all her hard work and effort in preparation, leading the sessions and lugging around a car-load of kit. Also special thanks to the group volunteers - and you know who you are - for spending long periods up to their elbows in freezing water, scrubbing the printing frames clean.

Watch out Devizes - you might be next!

Sarah is currently studying for a Foundation Degree in Applied Art and Design.

Pewsey Recipes on-line

2011-01-02T11:30:00.009Z

There has been a lot going on at the Pewsey Group in 2010. They don't spend much time sitting around chatting, but like to get stuck into something creative and "hands-on" and chat while they work.

Just one of the many activities they tried during the year was to design and make relief prints that illustrated favourite recipes. Some of these got reproduced into recipe cards and each group member had a set to take home. It was a great way to share with one another and it is something that can be built on in the future as a theme.

The group would like to share their recipes with you. Follow the link here to go to the Arts Together Pewsey webpages.

New Year Greetings from Arts Together

2011-01-01T14:27:00.006Z

Greetings to everyone. It's been awhile since any news appeared on the Blog but I hoping to remedy that in the coming week or so. What appears may not be strictly in order in relation to when it happened, but I hope that doesn't matter too much.

First, we had a great fund-raising evening before christmas (22nd Dec). Mother's Jam - a wonderful Acappella sextet toured the pubs of the Pewsey Vale in atrocious icy conditions to sing to unsuspecting drinkers and diners. Despite the cold and snow we managed to raise £193.72.

Thanks to all who turned out - even briefly - to shake a bucket - Karolyne, Belinda, Rupert, Ruth, Karen and Jeff. This was a great - and fun - way to raise some funds, and it would be good to do it again... in summer please!

"We would like to thank the amazing generosity of all the locals and staff in The King's Arms in All Cannings, The Royal Oak and The Crown in Pewsey and The Barge at Honey Street.

Mother's Jam love to sing and were really happy to raise money for a truly wonderful local organisation that brings so much enjoyment to older people in our community."

Many thanks Janet McClean, Kait Gray, Vanessa LaFaye, Vanessa Taylor, Harriet Hunt-Watts, Polly Carson

(any Mother's Jam enquiries to Kait Gray 01672 851959)

Janet

New Publications posted on website

2010-09-16T15:04:00.003+01:00

If you haven't seen the latest Arts Together Annual Report it is now available on the website. Just go to here Publications and click on Annual Report 09-10.

At the same time you can read Well-being Among Older People written for Arts Together by Whittington Consultants who have reviewed the latest research evidence on the value of engaging older people in arts activities. This document is a positive affirmation of what Arts Together stands for and will help us with fund-raising and all-round promotion of the project.

Jeff

The Lights Go On in Devizes

2010-06-07T14:21:00.002+01:00

Flame retardant spray is so difficult to come by these days; which, with hindsight, is a good thing. After a health and safety assessment, and the subsequent discovery of battery operated lights at B&Q, the original plan to create sky lanterns (naked flames, paraffin soaked strips and tissue paper) was shelved and my welcome at Elizabeth House remains warm, rather than charred.

It was a complete indoor lantern fest over the four week period and what a challenge it proved to be. Fortunately, the Devizes group are a tenacious lot who were not about to let a bit of wire, hardboard and tissue paper get the better of them. Sawing, laughing, wiring, laughing, sanding, laughing, painting, laughing, glueing and raised levels of biscuit consumption, saw a heap of raw materials evolve into pieces of illuminated art. Frankly, I have seen more old-fashioned lamps for sale in Habitat!

The finished products do not even hint at the endurance of those who rose to the challenge and there were a few fraught moments but once everyone got the glue out of their hair, and their tea, we were all friends again so no harm done.

Design worked alongside an individual's ability and creativity which is why the finished pieces are all so unique; each lantern evoking the personality of the artist. On the day of completion, everyone was looking forward to it getting dark so that their handiwork could be fully appreciated. Not only were the lights going on, but everyone was planning to be home. Job done.

Sara-Jane

Pewsey mosaics go on show at local gallery

2010-05-04T14:04:00.004+01:00

The latest project at Pewsey was the workshops run by Mosaic artist Joanna Dewfall. Despite this being a new activity for many of the group there was great enthusiasm for the relatively ambitious task, which was to create animal garden sculptures. As each of the creatures are up to two and a half feet long we were keep very busy indeed but it was a lot of fun working out designs and colours and the end results are pretty spectacular. In fact we are so proud of them we are putting them on display at the The Art Gallery in Pewsey, which is situated on the High St. They can be viewed daily Mon-Sat 5th-31May, 10am to 4pm.

Also, on 19th April I was pleased to receive a donation from the Pewsey Carnival on behalf of Arts Together; the support that we receive from our local community is very much appreciated.

Cheers Ffion

Devizes group take on Matisse

2010-04-03T14:40:00.003+01:00

Over 3 sessions in March the Devizes group took on making a collage of a well known Matisse painting... only they didn't know what it looked like until after they had finished!!!

An image of the painting "Still life with Checked Tablecloth" painted in 1903 by Henri Matisse, was traced onto cardboard and then divided into 16 rather abstract looking squares. It was impossible to indentify very much and even to know which way round a square should be.

Patiently and with much amusement the members collaged with scrap paper, the square puzzle-pieces using a small photo of "their piece" for colour reference and guidance. On the last meeting before Easter we brought all the pieces together and...voila! as they say in France, our masterpeice was revealed. We were all a bit stunned by the final artwork - which measures a metre square - and spent a lot of time looking at it and congratulating each other before lunch - which always over-shadows any artistic endeavours!!

We are obviously very proud and pleased with our achievement and have plans to show it to the rest of Devizes over the coming weeks. Watch for more news on this.

Thanks to the group members and volunteers for being such good sports and getting stuck-in. And I am pleased that nobody said "Why are we doing this?"

Jeff

PS Pictures of our artwork and Matisse's original effort. Guess which is which.

News from Pewsey

2010-04-01T13:34:00.001+01:00

The group was originally asked to think about associating colour with different moods and feelings. This provoked an assorted reaction:

Calm - pink or pale blue
Sad - black, grey
Angry - black and scarlet

Depressed - dreary colours

Some thought about it during the week and brought materials in to use, others found it a bit baffling but after some persuasion and encouragement produced some lovely paintings.

I was amazed to find that the group was almost silent during most of the workshops - not due to boredom, but they were just very busy getting on with their ideas. This was lovely and created a very peaceful and reflective atmosphere. To be honest the original idea got a bit lost after a while, but it didn't matter as it helped create some beautiful artwork and, I think, a good feeling amongst the group. By the end they had enjoyed it a lot, and were surprised at their results.

Anna (artist) – pictures to follow soon

Hindu Culture at Marlborough

2010-03-25T08:06:00.006Z

The last four weeks at Marlborough have been lively to say the least. Everyone appeared to enjoy interacting and sharing ideas, helped by the the use of the amazing vibrant colourful materials they were using for the project. Demi is so inspiring - not only teaching her art but sharing her Hindu culture and food, some of which we tasted and enjoyed. Questions on customs, geography and dress were asked. I think the group were "eyeing up" her sari with a view to cutting it up for their project but she escaped. A return visit would be much enjoyed I'm sure.

"We have just had Demi Ladwa teaching us to make 'torans' which are celebratory door hangings - it has been such fun and what diverse pieces were made!" Beryl

From the wonderful box-fulls of materials that Demi brought - felt, ribbons, pieces of silk sari, sequins, pompoms, beads - we constructed the most beautiful array of decorative strips and learned how they are used in India to adorn the doorway of a house which is celebrating a happy occasion like a wedding.

Flo and Juliet

In memory of Nora

2010-03-10T15:22:00.002Z

The Devizes group recently lost one of their longest attending members. Nora (Penny) had been a keen participant for many years. In memory of her creative involvement there was a display put up at Elizabeth House for friends and family of some of the artwork she made at Arts Together sessions.

Karolyne on BBC Wiltshire Radio

2010-03-08T09:21:00.003Z

Karolyne was interviewed on the radio last week and helped present the work of the charity to a wider audience.

Jeff

Volunteers Wanted

2010-03-03T13:58:00.005Z

Join our Phoenix volunteers and discover how you can make a real difference to the quality of life of local older people.

Arts Together is an innovative, award winning, registered charity working to improve the quality of life of vulnerable, isolated older people. We run groups in Devizes, Pewsey and Marlborough and provide a wide variety of challenging and rewarding professional arts.

We are setting up new teams of volunteers in each group area – the Phoenix Teams - to help us to fundraise and to promote Arts Together. You will be helping us to increase support – expertise, funds and gifts in kind – from our local communities. You will have the chance to develop ideas and put them into practice.

If you are organised, innovative, outgoing and love a challenge, if you can spare at least 8 hours a month, this may be for you.

As an Arts Together volunteer, you will be part of a friendly, imaginative and committed team of volunteers, artists, group members and managers who have a great deal of fun. Joining us means we can achieve so much more.

There is more about Arts Together here

If you are interested and want to know more, please contact Karolyne Fudge-Malik; karolyne@artstogether.co.uk, 01380 831434, or 07525 153425

Designs on Lunch

2010-03-02T17:37:00.005Z

Last week we were experimenting with small collages and made book marks and coasters. Some of the group continued with these today, but others got adventurous and made lunch place mats. To get a good result the collages had to be scanned and printed before encapsulation, but the results are very special. So next week...?

Jeff

Olympic Pennants for 2012

2010-03-02T08:35:00.002Z

Came across this website and thought it had the potential for a workshop activity with the groups. There is a website for the project which appears to be national. http://www.quilts4london.org.uk/

Jeff

Collage at Devizes

2010-02-23T15:30:00.004Z

Today was the start of a 5 week block of worshops at Devizes. We got going with some simple collage, making small laminated mats and bookmarks. We will be moving onto more ambitious projects next week. It was a jolly session on a cold and grey day and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Jeff - artist

Devizes does abstract expressionist painting

2010-02-19T18:20:00.002Z

During last month's workshops, the Devizes group went all a bit abstract; creating pieces of work synonymous with their 'favourite places' - their aim, to capture the essence of that place during the various seasons of the year..

Limbering up on large sheets of paper turned into a messy business (they did manage to get the paint out of their hair) that proved to be both interesting and liberating. 'Off with the cardigans!' Colours were assigned to a list of words that each felt described their place during one of the seasons; thought was given to the application of the colour; caution, brushes, paints and palette knives were thrown to the wind, allowing art to prevail.

The results speak for themselves - two Damiens in there, a Picasso, a hint of a Rothko and, as someone pointed out, the rest were Pollocks.... Jackson Pollock's. We laughed so much there was a queue for the toilet.

In addition to the painting, there were extra curricular sweets (thanks) and a box of chocolates (Yay) which had to be dealt with- undivided attention to the chart is required if one wants to avoid the montelimar. We still managed to give lunch a good run for it's money and with clean plates, no-one had to help with the washing up which meant we could all go straight home, for a sleep. Or was that just me.

Sara-Jane

Marlborough's mosaics

2010-02-10T11:41:00.005Z

Just finished the last session at Marlborough and had a lovely time making garden pavers, in an intriguing eclectic set of designs. I have yet to set and deliver them but have made arrangements to leave them in the rose bed.

We had a good discussion during lunch about what we would like to do another time - glass painting and silk painting but then they got very excited remembering a big painting project that Rolf Harris did years ago whereby he divided up a famous picture into lots of samll squares and gave each square to an artist who copied the square faithfully but in their own style and scaled up, they then made an enormous version of the original by putting them all together. I have seen this done before by school children of a Van Gogh and the result was an amazing picture and really stretched the pupils' painting skills. Anyway, just an idea if any painters want to pursue it with a group sometime!

I also asked them that if at some time in the future I was to come back what would they like to do in mosaic next and the consensus of opinion was a new sign for the building - a collaborative project.

Cheers, Joanna

Pewsey goes colourful

2010-02-04T07:51:00.002Z

Pewsey group are well into their last sessions of creating mood pictures, exploring colours and the feelings they inspire. They started by doing small paintings of their present mood and moved on to doing a contrast picture of two different moods and the different colours that reflect those moods. Some people collected things from home to bring in and add to a collage and another has made a large collection of stripes. They have been looking at pictures by Picasso and Matisse and picked out the various moods of the pictures. There has been some intense work here and some interesting discussions. This increased awareness and understanding of colour will serve us well in all the things we do in the future.
Karolyne

website now live

2010-02-02T11:35:00.002Z

As you can see the new Arts Together website is now live and open for business. Lots of things to look at and info which hopefully we can keep updating. There are now easy ways to donate money to the charity so tell all your friends and family. And maybe this new blogspot will help to connect all those involved in Arts Together and the wider public. Only time will tell. Jeff

Set-up of blog

2010-01-10T15:39:00.000Z

Just finished setting up the Blog for Arts Together and linking it to our website. Just need the website to go live now. Jeff