Unfortunately, I have had to postpone my event on the 14th of March as both of the BSL interpreters are now unable to take part.
While this is disappointing it gives me more time to fully explore this area and to work more closely with BSL interpreters and the Deaf community in Wolverhampton.
The event will now take place on Tuesday 21st November 6 till 8 pm, All Welcome.
Meantime I heartily recommend the exhibition at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, which won’t be on in November. Have a look at www.shemza.digital
The Next event will be the Exhibition at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury April 14th. to May 14th.
with screenings and workshops on Saturday May 13th. 2023
The Weather Report event at WolverhamptonArena Theatre 2-4pm 14th. March 2023
I’m bringing my Arts Council England funded Project, “The Weather Report” to Wolverhampton , with a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted performance on Tuesday 14th March. Booking at : https://wlv.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873643619
The Weather Report event includes a 14 minute film screening in a two hour creative engagement with my fictional historical character “Lucida”.
Lucida is an English mental health nurse just returned from working in New Zealand in 1948. I use this character to take people out of their ‘every day’ and consider how a sense of connection impacts on mental health and thoughts of ‘home’.
Lucida offers a light-hearted, respectful approach to emotive and often serious subject matter. As we know, sometimes it’s easier to simply talk about the weather.
The project is very much about communication, connection and inclusion. The BSL interpreted performance will add an extra dimension as well as being welcoming of Deaf and hard of hearing audiences.
The subtitled short film, funded by Arts Council England in 2020/21, is a powerful and moving record of the thoughts and voices of women from coastal, immigrant and creative communities (in England in 2021 and New Zealand in 2019). They explore their feelings about the weather, the sea, migration, colonisation, notions of connection and what it means to be ‘A Good Ancestor’.
The Weather Report event at the Dragon Theatre in Barmouth in November was a great success. Participants watched the short film and guided by my fictional historical character ‘Lucida’ made drawings, collage, a collaborative poem and discussed what it means to be a good ancestor.
“I just enjoyed the session and it’s been nice meeting everybody and just talking about stuff. I’ve just really enjoyed it. It’s nice connecting with people.” Dave Cousins, Barmouth resident.
Participants completed a “Barometer of Change” postcard at the beginning and end of the session, using weather terminology (foggy, bright and low etc.) to describe their own internal weather report.
“Mine was overcast, originally, and now feels warm. I’ve had the worst year of my life in the one just passed. It just helps I think, it’s not taken my mind off it. But, it’s helped me feel more grounded, and less dominated by the black cloud.” Janice Horrocks, Dragon Theatre Trustee
Lucida had a lovely response from the participants, People don’t always know what to expect from my workshops, because it is quite a unique experience that is difficult to explain.
“It’s just a nice warm feeling. Because you’ve been and it’s a lovely, positive vibe, isn’t it? We’ve come here, and we’ve done this. It’s easy to say I can’t be bothered; it’s raining outside. I thought to myself, it’s raining, nobody’ll go. But it’s people making the effort, I’m going and I’m glad I did.” local resident Antoinette Whitehouse, said.
“I think doing this, it’s been allowing you to play this afternoon. And you know, some people might have felt uncomfortable with the drawing but once you start with the collage then that’s losing control again, isn’t it? And yet thats okay, there’s no right answer to this..…So I think that was really good fun.” Jane Cousins, local resident.
Spontaneity, playfulness, reflection and the willingness to try were the order of the day.
“I’ve gone from foggy to bright in creativity; I’m always a bit uncertain and I’m never sure which direction I need to go in. I feel actually, like you say, having a play kind of allows you to be spontaneous.” Janice commented.
“It’s almost like you need to instil that inner child part of you that likes to come out. I think it’s important, especially as adults, to keep that inner child part of us going, because that’s what keeps us in touch with our creative side. That’s what keeps our imagination going.” added Dragon Theatre Arts Group facilitator Sharon Betts
“One participant, Philippa Bunting, said she just couldn’t miss such a wonderful arts opportunity, which was music to my ears. Many thanks to Julie McNicholls Vale at the Cambrian News for publishing the event online and in the paper, some participants would have missed it otherwise,
Many thanks also to Janice Horrocks at The Dragon Theatre for her support, and for inviting me back to work with the Arts Group in the 2023.
A Barmouth Poem: Going Forward
the shell belongs to all of us
let’s stop defining one thing by comparing it to another
my life shouldn’t be a death sentence for the world
the shell belongs to all of us
from me to you and back again
and if I do not preserve my surroundings I do not preserve myself
the shell belongs to all of us
break the chain to escape and find the real you, make your own imprint believe and you can achieve
the shell belongs to all of us
oh I do like to be beside the seaside
The final event of the tour will be at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury with a one month exhibition from April 14th to May 14th 2023. There will be two opportunities to take part in the workshop event on Saturday May 13th. in The Haydn Smith Room.
Jill Impey’s Arts Council England funded Project, “The Weather Report” is Touring to The Dragon Theatre Barmouth for 2 performances, on Tuesday 25th October. Followed by Raglan, New Zealand for 2 performances, on Friday 28th October.
The Weather Report event includes a 14 minute film screening in a two hour creative engagement with the film maker and artist, performing as her fictional historical character “Lucida” in the UK . While in New Zealand, Jasmine Teei founder of Black Flax and one of the original contributors to the film. will deliver the project at The Old School Arts Centre in Raglan.
Poster for the event at The Dragon Theatre in Barmouth
We can learn a lot about our world through art history and contemporary art by putting things into context.
I’m looking forward to running these 4 Art History and Contemporary Art sessions at Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery starting with SAT 1 OCT, 2022 Portraits Art History Workshop with Jill Impey Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Cost: £20/ session booking at https://www.shropshiremuseums.org.uk/…/portraits-art…/
This week I have been reflecting on accessibility and inclusion.
In July for The Weather Report programme I took part in Accessible Marketing training by Paula Dower from DASH. I have started to implement some of the really important changes that I need to make in my communications.
I have also started to recognise some of my own accessibility needs as a neurodiverse artist.
I have always struggled with giving talks and decided to use visual notes with drawings and annotations. This enabled me to remember key points when I gave a talk to fellow artists: Andrew Howe, Jean Atkin, Emma Plover and Jamila Walker Thomas; Olivia Hames from the Hive and Kate Green from Meadow Arts.
My visual notes for a talk about The Weather Report. They include important dates, images and tour venues.
In other news:
I attended The Body as Vessel: Priya Mistry AKA What’s the Big Mistery, provoking, evoking and amplifying. (Axis Web)
I Visited British Columbia and was inspired by indigenous knowledge. I found affinity with Raven who teaches us to be creative, playful and curious.
Raven Dancer- Contemporary Blackstone Carving. Koskas ( Billy Dan ) Lilwat Nation, 2004
I’ve just booked a course in Mental Health First Aid with St John’s Ambulance. This will help deal with any issues that come up during workshops. It will help create a safer space.
This new knowledge will be embraced and disseminated in The Weather Report Inclusion Tool- Kit.
“This is a time to take a lesson from mosses” Robin Wall Kimmerer, renound writer and botanist
Mosses have survived 350 million years of catastrophe. They are ecologically important, absorbing huge quantities of water, helping to soak up rainfall and create humidity, offering a home for creatures, like woodlice and nematodes.
There are around 1,000 bryophyte species of mosses and liverworts in the UK. Many require microscopes to distinguish between closely-related species, how can we get to know and learn from them?
For this workshop during Participate’s exhibition a-kin, Jill Impey will take you on a brief artist’s guide to learning from mosses. No experience necessary, there will be some fun drawing and mark making and a gathering of words to make poetry snippets you will need pencil / pen and A4 paper.
Suitable for Adults & Children Age 8 upwards ( no unaccompanied children)
Session lasts 1 hour, Sunday 13th of February at 1 pm
Face to face: at the Unitarian Church Shrewsbury ( max 6 including carers – please note there are stairs up to the workshop room ) booking via : shrewsburyunitarians@gmail.com
Weather was lovely, sunshine & cloud with a light wind close to the sea. I watched from the Hoe as the light grey fog that hung over Plymouth Sound on Wednesday afternoon, obscured the jagged volcanic rocks of Drake’s Island, then lift almost as soon as it came.
1940’s mental health nurse Lucida, having just returned from New Plymouth, New Zealand, had many fruitful interactions with visitors to her events, sharing stories and comparing experiences of the COVID 19 pandemic with WW2 and the post war period.
Many people recognised the importance of the moment, reflecting on the divisive events of 1948; the building of the Berlin Wall, the beginning of Apartheid in South Africa and the establishment of the State of Israel. All acknowledged the impact of those post war devisions and the need for global unity now, in 2021 not just for humanity but for all nature’s sake.
If ever there was a time to send a postcard it is now, we all live under the same sky, reach out and communicate.
Postcards available 5 for £5 inc P&P uk, please contact me for details
Finally arrived in Plymouth after much preparation and packing, and a beautiful green journey along the A49.
Preparation for Plymouth workshops & audio recording peoples voices
My character Lucida will be taking part in a community engagement today Saturday May 29th from 10-1pm at Teats Hill, and Monday 31st. & Tuesday 1st June 10-1pm in the Garden of the National Marine Aquarium, with Age UK Plymouth on Thursday and around Plymouth Harbour and various venues throughout the week see https://jillimpey.com/blog/ for further details.
Lucida looking forward to meeting Plymouth folk and visitors
Parmeliaceae, Shield Lichen, fundamental allies, monoprint with collage
Looking to the skies for inspiration
April has brought brightness, new life, ideas and self-reflection:
I have been: enjoying delivering creative well-being engagement sessions, on-line and face to face, connecting with nature and connecting with eachother.
Swimming: in cold water
Listening to: Entangled Life, Merlin Sheldrake
Watching: A Year To Change the World, Greta Thunberg
Reading and Journaling (circle way) : Me and White Supremacy, Layla Saad
I love this part of my workshop process, when I have been working alongside participants engaging creatively together with natural objects. We share our thoughts, reflections and responses and make a collaborative poem.
This one is from Shropshire Supports Refugees’ volunteers responding to sea shells, borderless, unbounded and found :
Seeds, pearls, beginnings of treasured love, change you
Evolving, complex, disjointed, unknown.
Swoosh, dripping, organic, natural ridges.
Borders, discover home, one life, a social echo, identity
Integrity an allegory as actor artist, to tell stories.
I’d be interested to know if it resonates with anybody who wasn’t there….
It is so important, in these times especially, to work with other people. To keep connecting and collaborating via zoom, phone, distanced walking and talking or all of the above. I’ve had some great interactions walking in parallel with artist Julie Louise Harrison via WhatsApp, followed by creating via zoom once home, since having to stop our monthly Thinking Path meet up to walk the Shropshire Way.
I have enjoyed working with Director Ellen Edwin-scott to develop my conduit, character for The Weather Report Lucida Impey; an English Mental Health Nurse working in New Plymouth, New Zealand and about to return home in1948. Lucida delivers The Weather Report workshops via zoom through time and space from New Zealand (!) and will be returning to England in the spring to Plymouth Harbour (from where both James Cook and before that the Mayflower set sail for ‘The New World’ ) .
From this historic place she will make safely distanced conversation with passers by engaging them with the project themes of connection, commonality and migration, and talking about the weather.
I’m looking forward to working with Kim Wide form Take A part, artists Still/Moving, and The Box, in Plymouth later in the project as part of the city’s Mayflower400 events.
As a neurodiverse artist I often find that I miss out explanations about how to engage with my projects and invitations to share in my practice. In fact throughout the project I’ll be exploring my own neurodiverse ways of communicating, with artist Heather Peak who is mentoring me.
This is the first project I have applied for Arts Council England’s Access Fund, and it has made such a difference from the usual stress of bid writing – I would urge neurodiverse (dyslexic etc) artists to apply for bid writing support. I went to DASH, https://www.dasharts.org/ for advice on this and in relation to the general accessibility of the project . Mike Leyward was brilliantly helpful.
Julie Hoggarth from Brass Tacks (https://www.brasstacks.org.uk/), a long time friend and fellow artist, helped me hone the bid with her magical recomposing of words.
I would also recommend this podcast : https://www.movebeyondwords.co.uk/podcast to any one who is or thinks they might be dyslexic/neurodiverse or wants to understand links between creativity and neurodiversity.
The workshops for The Weather Report are dedicated to specific groups at the moment, but I would like people to follow and respond to the blog which will be weekly mainly visual snippets and will invite participation further into the project.
I’m happy to be launching this Arts Council England funded project, aiming to facilitate connection and wellbeing in these difficult times and finding commonality through natural objects.
The Weather Report is dedicated to my lovely mum, Betty Impey, who struggled with depression, she passed away in November 2020, aged 90. We always talked about the birds and the weather. Sometimes it’s easier to talk about the weather, it’s a starting point, an ice breaker, we all experience weather who ever we are and where ever we live.
Workshop packs for volunteers and staff at Shropshire Supports Refugees, to create their own wellbeing toolkits
The online workshops start on Monday 18th. January 2021. Firstly I’ll be working with volunteers and staff at Shropshire Supports Refugees and later on with service users themselves. This will be followed by sessions with Age UK Plymouth, staff, volunteers and service users.
The outcomes from these two sets of workshops in conjunction with recordings made in New Zealand (Aotearoa) in 2019 will inform and become part of a new film work.
The Weather Report will explore existing and lost or hidden connections between lands and ancestors, migrations, impacts of colonisation and how we might develop a language to navigate prejudice and negative interactions.
Please do contact me if you want to be involved or join the discussion, thank you
Since June 2020 I have been running a weekly online studio, it’s a lovely social and creative exchange of ideas in difficult times, especially for those including myself in lockdown or shielding.
I have been honouring weeds, wild flowers & seeds, mainly from my garden, as mono prints, because of their importance to bees and the environment. I made over 60 of these up as postcards and sent them through the post as far away as New Zealand & Canada, to friends and family as Christmas & New Year cards, so far they have all arrived intact!
Jill Impey 