4. The Work

The ‘Work’ can refer to the different outputs of what is going on within a session.

Artwork

Firstly, there is the artistic process that is fundamental; both as an end ‘product’ or piece of work, but also the critical process that is involved in its making. Art connects the worlds of imagination and reality by fusing “together temporal and perpetual realities” (Winterson, 1996: 143). We can hold a shared language, both with each other and the past, present and future.

• Choice – the artist has to be able to have a choice in what to create or do, although not too much that they perceive their potential choice seem too vast to know where to start. In some cases giving a limiting choice can create more of an artistic challenge. Ultimately they choose what to include or excluded on their ‘blank canvas’.
• Connections – creating connections between art and themes in their reality or qualities within a piece of art. Through these connections a voice or message can form.
• Meaning – giving their work meaning; through context of other work and/or their reality
• Process – the physical process of creating the work. The selection of mediums, bases and techniques within a piece.
• Understanding – both their artistic process and the actual creation of the work.
• Experimentation – experimenting and testing the boundaries of material manipulation, approach and process.
• Reflection – reflecting, evaluating and potentially refining what is created. Considering what may affect the outcome of future pieces or processes.

As art provides an external focus outside of a person; authentic and genuine feelings can be explored deeper than just words through the pure essence of art (Moore, 2003). For people who are vulnerable, marginalised or excluded articulating their feelings in a medium other than words can be a real boost to their self-confidence and give them a voice.

Integrity of the visual image

This process can be difficult to explain, record or convey in other means, however, perhaps because of this there can be a real sense of integrity and genuineness within it. As Berger (1977:7) famously writes “Seeing comes before words”; there is something quite innate and primal about a visual image that can convey a shared meaning.

One example of this process that particularly spoke to me is the bead Story Vases of participants from the Siyazama project in South Africa (White, 2009: 155-174).

This for me is an example of valuable participatory art. Through combining process and content into a coherent and articulate form, this is what Barrett describes as an “honourable use of art” (2011:100).

Within community arts there is also, however, the question of the ‘legitimacy’ of the art in comparison to High Art.

Through creative expression and critical response participants are learning a ‘qualitative language’ in order to describe the ‘how’ rather than the ‘what’ (Sandell, 2006:33). Through this active learning they can form their own distinctive and unique ‘Voice’.

As well as the individual there is the collective voice; both within discussions in mental health and within more political fields of the Big Society (Knell & Taylor, 2011).

Under the surface

The other side to the creation of the physical work is what is happening beneath the surface – the ‘real’ work of developing the self and self-actualisation.

Decisions

Decision making is important – both to reduce dependence and increase the sense of autonomy and control or “ongoing individual mastery” (Cohen, 2006:3); something which can be very important for those living in residential care (Aspell, 1976).

With this in mind, I aim to create projects and activities for people where they themselves can do it with very little assistance. For example, using scissors to cut simple shapes out can be very important for a person in a residential home who cannot move without someone’s help.

Independence and Autonomy

Through providing an opportunity for participants to make decisions on their art work they are promoting their own independence, autonomy and influence on their own work.

“Art, by definition, heightens the senses” (Larson & Perlstein, 2003). Within that process there can be a way to work that enables people with mobility and sensory impairments feel productive in other ways and able to appreciate their other senses.

Here and Now

Working in the ‘here and now’ can be rewarding in ways as it focus the mind, promotes ‘flow’ (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990) and help with creating the work.

In some cases, such as with working with people with dementia, this is the only ‘common ground’ your realities may share – but can be a powerful one.

Greater Than the Sum

The artwork that was created formed two parts – the work that was created through projects and participants felt as though these pieces were what they wanted to share about themselves and the group pieces that were made specifically for the theme of the exhibition - Inspiration.

Some more quotes from the group’s book:

What does art mean to you?
Expression

• Making friends with people
• Expression
• Looking at art, learning about art and creating art enriches my life
• It takes me out of myself, and keeps me active. I love art it gives me meaning in life
• The expression of imagination
• A new place

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