School kicks off again with this lovely image of years 5 & 6 covers for their 'Scavenger sketchbooks' drying in a pile.

It's always a treat to see what children will come up with at Salisbury museum workshops. Not only did we have peg dolls dressed in Cecil Beaton's designs (to accompany the wonderful exhibition there), but the cast of Star Wars also made an appearance!

It wouldn't be a Salisbury museum medieval day without the chance to make a helmet and shield. Here are two really fierce characters showing off their work

On a more contemplative note, we made some embossed medieval prayer books with some beautiful intricate designs

Working with two Wiltshire schools, specialising in education for those with learning difficulties and physical disabilities as part of La Folia's musical production of The Tempest.

In their own words,

La Folia is a music production company creating performance based projects including unique operas and concerts. We are especially dedicated to working in special needs settings, as well as mainstream education, festivals, organisations and communities. We bring live music making of the highest calibre to people who otherwise might not have the opportunity to experience it.

All of the artwork was based on a dream like interpretation of the boat and the seascape which surrounds the magical island in Shakespeares play

So pleased with this wonderful floral display made by years 5 & 6 primary school children for their local church. Every flower is made using a recycled plastic bottle and a lot of imagination. Opened out it makes a wonderful 'garden' like curtain which will also double up as the back drop for their end of year performance of Alice in Wonderland.

Very excited to be working with La Folia in their Full Fathom Five project which will result in a flamboyant concert based on the Tempest. As the artist on the project I will be working with two schools for children and young people with special needs of varying kinds to provide a visual element to the work.

The first session got off to a flying start as we made the structure which will form the boat in the suspended display.

Great day at Salisbury Museum creating our own 'Cabinets of curiosities' inspired by the museum s own exhibition which draws on the Pitt Rivers collections.

artifacts were made for the various compartments and books printed with various collections

Had to include this lovely article from the Salisbury journal that someone had submitted on their experience at last Fridays opening night;

“A STRANGE collection,” I thought. We were gathered in the common room at Sarum College on Friday night for the opening of their latest art exhibition. Canapé in hand and a strange purple non-alcoholic smoothie in a glass. “Not a very auspicious start to a Friday night,” I thought.

Keith spoke first. He welcomed us in a few carefully-chosen words on the subject of sanctuary, the title of the exhibition. He spoke about cathedrals and churches as safe havens in the past. Of sanctuary today taking on a wider meaning – places from which one could go out into the world, refreshed and better prepared. Of Sarum College, an ecumenical centre for Christian study and research giving believers and non-believers alike a sanctuary in which they can nourish their spirit.

Then John spoke; a leading and established sculptor whose works currently adorn the Close. He spoke about the men without whom his works could not be created – of quarrymen with knowledge, understanding and respect for stones who provided him with the raw material for his works. He talked about the masons who cut and shaped and finished his designs, and of those who provided a home for his finished work - giving them new life; sending them out into the world to inspire and confront and refresh.

Then Susan spoke, an artist in her own right who for the last year has been working with a group of residents from Morning Star Salisbury, a charity giving support to those struggling with homelessness and addiction.

She spoke about those attending her classes discovering creativity and self-expression for the first time, about people whose lives had been hardened discovering a sense of fun, about creativity in collage and giving discarded materials their own new life.

And finally Sharon – a volunteer and former resident from Morning Star. She spoke movingly about how she had discovered value in herself through art, about how it taught her that her creations didn’t have to perfect to be of value, loved and appreciated.

They were distinctive speakers for a distinctive audience - staff and guests from a Christian college, the occasional librarian from a conference in search of the bar, artists, recovered alcoholics whose art was now on display, Cathedral Close residents, seekers of spiritual truth, passers-by, neighbours, hangers-on, a canon or two from the Cathedral and Bill Browne from the Journal.

Would we ever have met in other circumstances? What else could ever have brought us all together to talk, listen and discover? Yet here we were. The opening of the exhibition provided the occasion. The audience and speakers provided the real collection.

So much of our time is spent with people who are just like us. At work. At home. With friends.

They confirm that our world view is correct.

Friday night was quite special and quite different.

Each of us was given a glimpse into someone else’s world. It turned out it was a very auspicious start to the evening, after all.

Fantastic night at the launch of the work by the group from Morning Star charity for the homeless http://www.sarum.ac.uk/college-community/special-events/art-exhibitions. Work flew off the walls before we had even officially opened and by the end of the evening the majority of the show was sold, raising money for the charity and giving those who had contributed a real sense of achievement.

And to add an extra dimension, the beautiful work by John Maine was also on display, opening on the same evening. John , myself and Sharon http://www.morningstarsalisbury.org/sharons-story/ (who is both a participant and essential to the running of the group) all offered an insight in the talk unwrapping the theme of Sanctuary. The work above is a direct response to a wonderful session with the camera in local landscape, which the men really enjoyed. Having recently been involved with Dr Tischler (Professor of Behavioural Phsycology at Nottingham Uni) on another project (more of later) I thought her words, although referring originally to her work on shellshock victims, were particularly apt for the group and the journey they have been on.

‘For many, creative expression is not just therapeutic, it can empower (people), by offering a positive identity shift from...(fill in your own description here)--- to artist’ .

Participants from Morning Star charity for the homeless, get their work ready for the forthcoming Santuary exhibition - looking good!

Finally, the first post of 2014, somewhat late due to us working our socks off to get work completed for the I Spy Salisbury' exhibition,  showcasing the talents of all age groups from primary age children up to A level students in Salisbury schools. The large silk dye painting was made by years 5 and 6 and relates back to the dramatic designs the children made shown in an earlier post.

In addition to the silk dye painting, years 5 and 6 worked hard to produce self portraits in acrylics which also went on display at the Salisbury Library Gallery

Visitors enjoyed our 'two way' images, which changed as you walked past the display

We also managed to complete our clay rings to make these textural totems with imprints from natural materials.