Dudley Creates - May taster workshops launch
Join Dudley Creates during the end of May for a week of creative workshops led by photographers, poets, artists, illustrators, filmmakers and practitioners.
Get inspired and share ideas as we begin to come out of lockdown to help us shape projects that will take place later in the year in Dudley.
See more below on how to register
During these 1-hour quick taster workshops we'll introduce you to new techniques, help inspire you, give you the chance to meet new people and, most importantly, give you the opportunity tell us about the kind of projects that you would like to take part in during 2021.
Dudley Creates is a new 12-month project for Creative Black Country that is produced by Kerry O'Coy + Laura Dicken that aims to bring an injection of creativity to the Borough. We're excited to work with you whether you are naturally creative, a curious observer or a budding artist - whatever your relationship with arts and culture we want you to help shape ideas and get involved.
To kickstart our year of Dudley Creates we've invited talented individuals to share their creative practice with you. These free sessions include; a paper scraps weave-along, collage art using your phone, narrative storytelling using photography, scriptwriting, illustration, and poetry.
Each session will be hosted by Dudley Creates and will last 1 hour. Sessions are free to attend but you must register for a place.
To register your interest you will need to register at the link below- choose which session you like (you can book in to more than one) and sign-up for your Zoom link.
Paper scraps weave-a-long with artist Nilupa Yasmin
Session 01 - Paper scraps weave-a-long with artist Nilupa Yasmin
Sunday 23rd May, 10.30 - 11.30am
Join Nilupa on a paper scraps weave-along with a brief history and demonstration into weaving photographs.
For this session, participants will need pre-cut strips of paper- roughly at 1cm but no smaller. This paper can be anything from coloured/plain/lined paper to magazine or leaflets.
Nilupa Yasmin is an artist and educator. Working primarily lens based, Yasmin takes a keen interest in the notion of culture, self-identity and anthropology. Combined with her love for handcraft and the materiality in photographic explorations, she repeatedly draws upon her own South Asian culture and heritage.
Please note that this workshop is open to women/female identifying womxn only.
Register here via eventbrite.
POUYATT STREET, OUTSIDE WHERE AMY ONCE LIVED, KINGSTON, JAMAICA Taken from the series 'From a Small Island.' ©Andrew Jackson
Session 02 - Taking control of your own narrative/story with photographer Andrew Jackson
Monday 24th May, 6-7pm
Join photographer Andrew Jackson who will talk you through the process of using imagery to take control of your own narrative/story. Andrew will discuss the basics of narrative and how this relates to his body of work.
You won't need to bring anything (although it might be useful to have a pen and paper to take notes), but Andrew will leave you with a take away project which you can do in your own time. Andrew will ask you to think about how to photograph a day in your own life to tell your own story.
Andrew Jackson is the co-founder and co-director of ReFramed, a UK based organisation which creates opportunities for artists from Black, Asian and other racialised communities to engage with photography. He has undertaken written commissions most recently - In The Night Of The Day for Living Memory Project.
Register for this here session via eventbrite.
Using poetry to tell your own story with poet Rupinder Kaur
Session 03 - Using poetry to tell your own story with poet Rupinder Kaur
Tuesday 25th May, 6-7pm
Using poetry to tell your own story, in this workshop participants will be looking at contemporary poets such as Kim Addonizio while exploring the themes of narrative and confessional poetry to then begin writing your own poems.
For this session you will need: Pen and paper
Rupinder Kaur is a poet, writer, and performer based in Birmingham. Her debut poetry book Rooh (2018) was published with Verve Poetry Press. Her work explores womanhood, language and history. Currently she is working on her next poetry collection along with theatre projects.
This workshop is open to all ages. If you are under 16 you will need to be accompanied by an adult.
Register here via eventbrite.
Help make a new print called Ads for Dudley with artist and illustrator Sarah Taylor-Silverwood
Session 04 - Help make a new print called Ads for Dudley with artist and illustrator Sarah Taylor-Silverwood
Wednesday 26th May, 6-7pm
Join artist Sarah Taylor Silverwood to help make a new print called Ads for Dudley, featuring fun hand painted adverts celebrating the best things about the area. Come along to this hour long workshop to make your ad, then you’ll be sent a free print after the session.
All you’ll need is:
-A black pen or pencil
-A red pen or pencil
-Some paper
-A camera phone or scanner
Sarah Taylor Silverwood is a visual artist who works with drawing. She makes public art works, animations, books, exhibitions, sculptures and textiles, often working in collaboration with other people.
Open to adults and children (accompanied by an adult, all welcome but probably most suitable for over 12s).
Register here via eventbrite.
Traditional/non-traditional collage using just your mobile phone and your imagination with illustrator and textile artist Karen Garland
Session 05 - Traditional/non-traditional collage using just your mobile phone and your imagination with illustrator and textile artist Karen Garland
Thursday 27th May, 6-7pm
Karen Garland will be delivering an hour’s session delving into traditional/non-traditional collage using just your mobile phone and your imagination. Exploring collage and creative expression to foster healing and mental well-being.
You will need: Grab what you can, but no rules. Karen suggests:
-Old magazines/photos
-Scissors/craft knife
-Plain paper/old cardboard/ packaging
-General art equipment or anything that makes a mark
-Phone camera
-Photos of textures and images
Apps that are useful – Apple and Android (free to download)
Mirror lab
Pixlr
Photoshop express
Chroma lab
Image glitcher
Glitch cam
Karen Garland (Queen of the Selcouth) creates collage born by a profound desire to inject magic and the macabre into the everyday. Karen creates curious, exuberant pieces from her own original collages, photos and artwork. Her artwork is inspired by a great love of the frightening, subversive and darker side of life, combined with a dash of Rock ‘n’ Roll and a touch from mother nature. She is dedicated to mixing iconic and poetic references and natural insignia, in a way that resonate with creative individuals that seek out something authentic.
Karen has worked over the years with fashion style icons such as Roland Mouret, Alexander McQueen and J Maskrey, in a career that started in fashion and then led to teaching. After a life changing event, Karen decided to reinvent herself and follow her passion. Her brand was born, and she is now creating work that is carefully crafted from her own photos and musings, which are brought to life using digital magic (and help from her phone). Her imagery tells a story, sets a scene, and brings her ideas to life.
Register here via eventbrite.
IF YOU NEED TO KNOW MORE
Who are these sessions open to?
Each workshop is limited in space with a maximum of 15 participants. Priority will be given to those who are based in the Dudley Borough but a waiting list will be made available for those outside.
Do I need experience in any of the workshops?
You do not need any experience to join a workshop. These are entry-level workshops that are here to inspire and help to grow you confidence in creativity. If you are confident already then great, but if not that is no problem. Just join in and have fun learning.
I can't use Zoom - can I still join?
If you can't use Zoom because you are new to it and need help then get in touch - maybe we can give you some guidance and help you set it up. If you can't use Zoom because you are unable due to technical issues or something else then remember these are just taster sessions - we would love to be able to offer you the opportunity to take part in a real life workshop later in the year.
I have access requirements can I still join in?
If you have any kind of access requirements please get in touch with us ahead of the session so we can discuss how we can help you. Where possible we want everyone to feel that they can take part in our projects, taster sessions and workshops.
I'm an artist based in the Black Country / West Midlands and would love to run a workshop...
Then we'd love to hear from you. Just tell us a bit about yourself and let's see if we can make something work.
If you have any questions or queries contact us at: kerry@creativeblackcountry.co.uk / laura@creativeblackcountry.co.uk