Derry, Not the same Old Story

“So much time, and so little to do!  Strike that, reverse it.”  (Willy Wonka)

Not the same Old Story
It goes to show how busy I've been that I haven't been here in a while, which is a good thing (for everyone). I think if you are in the Arts in Derry and you are not busy this year, you are doing something very wrong! 

Between working on projects and attending them, I'm meeting myself coming back, but heck, loving every minute of the madness.

Roll on Friday night, Brian Friel's 'Translations' followed by the whole shenanigans that 

comes with St Patricks day ...weekend,  Sláinte!

 And then forward on to Monday, a family treat with the London Symphony Orchestra, (Featuring John Williams’ best loved works for films directed by Steven Spielberg in a unique cine-concert accompanied by big-screen film excerpts.)


Last week, it was touring the walls I was at,  with Anne Crilly's 'Herstory' rediscovering the hidden history of women in the Maiden City,  one of the best local productions I've seen in Derry, then that  same night when I attended the best not local thing I've seen in Derry, Horfesh Shecter 'Political Mother' Event in The Venue.  What a thing to behold, and I only had to walk up the road to attend it!



I did think about how I'm getting old when I realised it was a standing event and not seated, and then to add insult to injury,  I was handed earplugs! (I thought they'd picked me out especially, as someone in need of holding on to whatever hearing they have left, EH!) but as the music started and vibes reverberated through my bones... I wised up! 

...the older people I've had the pleasure of facilitating in the 'Arts Care 'Here and Now' Older peoples Festival would show you a thing or two about what it means to be 'old' and not in the traditional sense.

 What a night! I took the children the next day to the Craft Village (Horfesh Pop Ups) to try and give them a taste of the event, well done to all the local young people who were involved.

There's so much more to be looking forward to, where do you start?

• The Return Of Colmcille 7-8th June
• The All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2013, in August, 
• The Turner Prize, October..... 

........added to an already rich tapestry of Grass Roots Festivals and events..... I'm going nowhere else this year...  Well, apart from a weekend in Lego Land !!!  Its not for me, its for the kids, even though it happens to coincide with my birthday!

Talking about older people.....


'Here and Now' Older peoples Festival. 
Alongside being involved in numerous arts projects thanks to the the City of Culture effect, the extremely busy position as Arts Care, Artist in Resident for the Western Trust, has also kicked up a notch or two or ten.

Currently, Arts Care is in midst of delivering the 'Here and Now' Older peoples Festival. Funded by the PHB, the Festival is province wide and will culminate in an Absolutely  Fabulous exhibition Art trail through the wards of Altnagelvin Hospital, launching April 9th. There are over 30 artists working in all the Trust areas to bring this to the fore, all types of arts practices and all types of wonderful older participants. 

As the Western Trust artist I have been working with a number of groups. 

Louis Orange Self Portrait

'On Reflection'
The U3A are an amazing organisation and here I worked with 9 lovely really young older people to deliver a series of digitally manipulated self portraits entitled 'On Reflection'. The first day I met them my heart sank as I thought they were too young for the 'over 60' guideline, but all was well, as although some just made the bracket, others comfortably took up the role of 'elders'. The group as a whole are living testament to the fact  that being older can be a rung to new and exciting possibilities. 
Indeed this group all looked at me like I had horns at the start of our sessions, as I invited them to explore their inner self, but, they were patient and 'got' the brief. I didn't want a straightforward self portrait, but an essence of themselves, their spirit, a glimpse of themselves, a reflection. I cannot wait to unveil the 10 beautiful canvas's that are the result of our sessions on the 9th of April.

'Generations' Animation

This group mainly came from Pilots Row, again another youthly and sprightly bunch, this time all men. Getting them to something new, was not a problem, the problem was that they had to fit the two days into their already busy schedule! Gone are the days when old age and retirement mean solely pottering around the garden and the house. These guys, are baking, painting and working out!  not only that, they're Facebook-ing and Twittering away about all sorts...  

The french for retirement is 'être à la retraite ', I imagine that's where the word 'retreat' comes from, and to these groups of older people (in good health) that is exactly what retirement is to them, a retreat, and with brilliant organisations in this city that cater to our elders, this city of 'perpetual' youth is the place to grow old (disgracefully, which is my intention). The two days in the Nerve Centre saw these 'young cubs' animating an audio interview I'd done with another gentleman, this time at the lovely age of 103! 
(on asked the secret to his longevity... as a professional runner he kept fit, wore bright colours and well, he didn't marry...hmmm..). 

 My favourite part of the interview was when I took his photo and showed him the LCD screen at the back,  he exclaimed 'Oh No, I look 127" !! 

I'm looking forward for his story to be told to the masses.

Keep'er Lit (Part 1) and  (Part 2) (What lights you up?)
The Idea for Keep'er Lit is for the participants to create a motif from something inspirational in their life. This could be related to their career, hobby family or what ever ‘lights’ them up. These are to be made into gorgeous lights.

Part 1

Working with 8 Older Ladies at Waterside Hospital  creating  a final Art/Light piece was a complete privilege. As we worked with photographs and source images to find images that are inspirational, (eventually to be image transferred onto chinese Lanterns), the stories told, the tales regaled, much of which I dare not repeat, all poured into our artistic endeavours. I only wish everyone can see in these lights, the passion and love that these women still emulate in their quieter years.

Part 2
The final group I am woking directly with in the 'Here and Now' Festival, come from day care and adult mental health. The first session in the Playhouse was a huge step for many of these participants, as a few of them seldom leave their homes. Again it was with in trepidation, anxiety and fear they approached, but all left after sharing something special.

The participants will meet again to spend 2 days in the Nerve Centre’s, Fab Lab each producing a light, These will be lasercut  and contructed with the help of the FAB LAB team. How fabulous is that?

So in your Diaries now April 9th, Altnagelvin, Here and Now Older Peoples Festival

Check it out at

http://www.artscarephanihereandnow.com

I haven't even started to talk about 'The Portrait of a City' in Gransha  ( A digital wall collage, which is to be installed highlighting the History of Mental Health in Gransha) or The "What's Your Story, City of Culture Project Action Mental Health at Foyle New Horizons, in which I am facilitating the creation of a sofa out of books. Maybe when its done, I can sit down, would be a novel experience.

“So much time, and so little to do!  Strike that, reverse it.”