CoolFruit: The CoolTan Arts Review Issue 2 by CoolFruit

The CoolTan Arts Review September 2014

INSIDE

Events Reviews Exhibitions Insight Poetry Recipes ..........and more!

The CoolTan Arts Review

CoolFruit Magazine was produced by volunteers at CoolTan Arts in workshops led by Annie Spinster

Written & Edited by:

Afey Yacob Andrea Cornfield Ann Fenn Annie Spinster Caroline Sparrey Gregory Baldeosingh

Layout & Design:

Alessia Passaretta, Afey Yacob and Caroline Sparrey

Cover Image:

Ashleigh Hernes - Where There’s Life, There’s Hope; 2014, acrylic on canvas.

Hattie Lucas Lillian Nalumansi Tanya Zhu

With Contributions by:

Charles Browne Garry Stevens Isley Lynn Jan Wallcraft Jill Spencer Marjorie McLean Mark Sparrey Peter Cox Rita Unger Sarah Keane

We would love to hear your views and thoughts on what is in this magazine. Do you treasured memories of festivals or other summer outings? Do you have tips to share on cycle maintenance or dealing with perfectionism? What has been your experience of applying for a Personal Budget? Maybe you have a poem, recipe or piece of art you would like to share with us. Please send all letters and submissions to cooltanmagazine@gmail.com and we will include as many as we can. With thanks to The Maudsley Charity and Capital Volunteering Legacy Fund for supporting this project.

The CoolTan Arts Review

Welcome Hello there, Readers! Well, doesn’t time fly?! Everybody at CoolTan Arts has been buzzing about busily all summer and as the season wanes and harvest time is just around the corner, it’s time to find out what they’ve been up to and enjoy the fruits of their activity. We therefore proudly present to you the September 2014 issue of CoolFruit: The CoolTan Arts Review!

Contents Can Do! Volunteering at CoolTan

Exhibition: Summertime Blues 10 Poetry by Rita Unger 14 Les Miserables 16 Artist Profile: Saffron Saidi 19 Reviews: Exercise Apps

Amongst CoolTan’s recent achievements is no less than The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and the Investing in Volunteers accreditation, both celebrated in Annie Spinster’s feature on volunteering.

Aspects of Poetry

In other features, Gregory Baldeo-Singh investigates experiences of people attending A&E for mental distress, Lilian Nalumansi finds out about Personal Budgets, Hattie Lucas challenges conventional thinking on Perfectionism and Ann Fenn shows us how to turn on, tune in and drop out as she shares her festival memories.

Poetry by Ann Fenn and Peter Cox 38

With tips for keeping your bicycle running smoothly and reviews of exercise apps, we’ll help you get out and about before the days get too short. And, as always, CoolFruit is ripe to bursting with creativity. This issue offers a bumper crop of poetry and artwork including two artists’ profiles on Saffron Saidi and Julian Roskelly.

Too Perfect 60

Enjoy!

Recipes 30 Graphic Design: Afey Yacob

Personal Budgets 33 Artwork: Gregory Baldeo-Singh

Bike Maintenance

How the Steel was Tempered

Artist Profile: Julian Roskelly

Glastonbury Tales

Review: Waterloo Festival

CoolTrade 64 Get Involved 66

m a e T t i u r F l o o C e h T

The opinions in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of CoolTan Arts as a charity.

Helping Us, Helping You - Find Out Just What You ...

Can Do! Annie Spinster investigates volunteering at CoolTan Arts ... Volunteering has always been at the heart of CoolTan Arts. The organisation started in 1990 as a volunteer-run group and the CEO, Michelle Baharier, did not draw a salary until 2006. ‘I volunteered for thirteen years and became the first director of CoolTan Arts even though my first paid staff member was Lu Firth who joined in 2004 as a textile tutor.’ she says. ‘I was medically retired - I had a choice to sit back and say goodbye to life or try to do something else to help myself.’ For Michelle back then, volunteering wasn’t always easy:

‘I helped hundreds of people get into work but I was still held back by the medically retired label. It did affect me at times, I had supported other people who were now well paid and doing OK and

had moved on in their lives, it makes me realise we volunteer for different reasons. It shows how long it can really take to turn someone’s life around.’ Today, the charity relies as much as ever on the hard work and skills of the many volunteers who give their time so generously. There are currently almost 90 volunteers supporting a much smaller paid workforce in all sorts of ways. CoolTan’s volunteers start and run workshops, walks and projects, support our office team, design our flyers, outreach to our local community, cook, garden, research, write about us and what we have achieved, photograph us in action, and help us to host events and exhibitions. Like all charities, CoolTan Arts is overseen by a board of Trustees another voluntary role. Last year, CoolTan Arts worked

Feature with 249 volunteers. 89% of whom were in receipt of benefits, 6% reported substance misuse, 19% have experienced homelessness and 32% have multiple support needs. CoolTan welcomes volunteers with disabilities and there are opportunities for Supported Volunteering, for those who need additional support to fulfil their volunteering role.

‘What’s important is for people to feel welcome and supported to contribute their knowledge and experience’ says Rachel Ball, CoolTan’s Volunteer Coordinator. ‘When I first meet a new volunteer my aim is to understand their motives and what they want from the volunteer environment, for example do they like to work solo or in a group?’ Volunteers at CoolTan certainly do feel welcome. ‘Everyone’s so friendly - it’s just a really nice place to come.’ said one, while another commented,

‘You don’t feel like a volunteer, you just feel like a member of the team and that’s the same for everyone.’ New volunteers attend an induction day where they learn more about CoolTan, meet staff, other volunteers and participants and begin to think about what they want to get out of their experience. People volunteer at CoolTan for a wide variety of reasons as well as the traditional desire to ‘give back’ to the community. For some, volunteering is a way to gain skills for work: ‘I’ve never done administration so I wanted to get some

experience and it’s been really useful for that.’ said one volunteer. Others are keen to use skills they are learning in college in a real-life setting: ‘I’m learning Graphic Design at college and it’s good to use these skills here’ said Lander, who was busy designing a flyer for an upcoming event, ‘I wish I could come more often, it’s great experience’. Volunteering at CoolTan also helps people stay in touch with others and helps their mental wellbeing. ‘It gives me a routine and something to do,’ said Jenny, who was in the middle of stock-taking CoolTan’s cleaning supplies, ‘it has helped me be more open about socialising’. Mary, who has been volunteering at CoolTan for 8 years, said ‘It gives me stability coming here; I have learnt a lot of skills which help me when I go out in the community.’

CoolTan Arts uses the ‘RARPA’ scheme to help volunteers identify their goals and keep track of their progress. Recognising And Recording Progress and Achievement, to give it its full title, is a tool developed by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) to help learners on non-accredited training set goals and keep track of their learning. ‘You complete the form at the beginning and they help you to identify your goals and what you want from being a volunteer, you then review it as you go along. It helps you identify what you’ve learnt along the way’ explained one volunteer. ‘CoolTan’s strength is the variety of volunteering opportunities we offer and the mobility offered within the organisation.’ Says Rachel, Volunteering Co-

ordinator. A volunteer might start on the reception desk, answering the phone and helping with admin, before moving on to volunteer with the Gardening Club or the Largactyl Shuffle. Others might volunteer on a special project, such as A Postcard to the World – CoolTan’s Olympicthemed Mail Art project, and then stay on to help with the website or writing press-releases.

‘You feel like there are no barriers to your involvement. You can try things out if you want to,’ as one volunteer said.

Roger has been volunteering at CoolTan for around a year and a half. ‘I started off with the CoolWalks project’ he says, ‘it was a while before I even came to CoolTan. Then I was asked to come and help archive the videos. I am still a walk leader and I volunteered with Largactyl Shuffle @ Science Museum Lates. Most recently I have become a trainee Trustee. I have started going to the Trustees’ meetings which has so far been fascinating, I never realised how many different things CoolTan is up to! ‘One of the best things is meeting lots of jolly interesting people from interesting backgrounds. I thought meeting the public would be the most interesting thing but it’s not. I am amazed by the quality and variety of the work that CoolTan outputs, it’s very unusual. There must be some magic involved to explain how a creative environment can function so effectively without the stresses and strains you normally see in a workplace.’

To help volunteers fulfil their roles, CoolTan provides a variety of training opportunities both in-house and externally. Courses include Customer Services, First Aid at Work, Mental Health First Aid, Safeguarding and Walk Leader Training, and many of these courses are accredited. There are also frequent opportunities for ‘on-the-job’ training, such as learning to update the website using Wordpress, answering phones and transferring calls, admin skills, graphic design, cookery skills, gardening skills, researching and writing, film editing and using a digital camera.

THE QUEEN’S AWARD FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE Recently, our volunteers’ endeavours have been royally recognised: CoolTan Arts has won The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service! This is an annual award to recognise and reward excellence in voluntary activities carried out by groups in the community. It is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK and is the equivalent of an MBE. It is given for outstanding achievement by groups of volunteers who regularly devote their time to helping others in the community, improving the quality of life and opportunity for others and providing an outstanding service. Michelle said, ‘I am delighted that CoolTan Arts has won this prestigious award, it is a testament to everyone who has ever volunteered at CoolTan Arts, their hard work, their giving of their time freely, either in the days when we squatted our buildings or since we become a charity. The DIY culture that CoolTan is famous for is actually the ‘Big Society’ that governments dream of. Well done every one at CoolTan Arts for your efforts!’ ‘We were visited by Jenny Bianco, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Southwark, who made us aware of the award and talked us through the process of getting ourselves nominated’ says Rachel Ball, CoolTan’s Volunteer Coordinator, ‘Nomination took place in September 2013 and we found out we were successful at the end of May. This is a fantastic recognition for all our past and present volunteers and the hard work, enthusiasm, time, commitment and skill sharing they have given to CoolTan Arts. I hope this award will inspire new people to become a part of CoolTan Arts and contribute to their community.’ To celebrate the Award, Rachel and Michelle were invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace and CoolTan will shortly receive a certificate signed by The Queen and a commemorative piece of crystal. While they enjoyed their day out at the Palace, Michelle afterwards commented that it would have been a difficult experience for a lot of our volunteers, many of whom experience mental distress. ‘We had to queue for over an hour to get in and the security was very heavy. For a lot of people it would have created a lot of anxiety.’ This is not the first time CoolTan’s volunteers have been recognised for their dedication and

hard work. In 2011, two long-term volunteers at CoolTan, Richard Muzira and Maki Spanoudis won a Southwark Civic Award and Richard also won the Bank of America Local Heroes Award for his services to volunteering. In 2012, CoolTan volunteer Adam Elsodaney won first prize in the Young Achievers Trust Award and another volunteer, William Ball, won a Southwark Civic Award. Our volunteers have also won numerous Southwark Star awards from Volunteer Centre Southwark and Star Awards from Lambeth Volunteer Centre. CoolTan has itself been recognised as a great place to be a volunteer. In 2006 we won an award from Ernst & Young for Best Organisation for Corporate Volunteers. In 2011 we won an award from Greater London Volunteering for Expert Volunteer Management and we have won an award from Volunteer Centre Southwark for Excellence in Employer Supported Volunteering.

INVESTING IN VOLUNTEERS CoolTan Arts has just been awarded the Investing in Volunteers Quality Standard - the UK quality standard for good practice in volunteer management. Rachel says, ‘Achieving this accreditation demonstrates CoolTan Arts’ commitment to involving and investing in volunteers. Everyone at CoolTan Arts should be proud of their involvement and achievements; without them this recognition would not be achieved. I hope this stamp of approval will encourage new people to join CoolTan Arts as a volunteer, safe in the knowledge that they will have a safe, enjoyable and supportive experience.’ With a huge number of workshops and projects running at CoolTan at any one time there is an amazing range of ways to get involved, and with this endorsement from Investing in Volunteers there has never been a better time to volunteer at CoolTan Arts. If you would like to become a volunteer or just find out more about it, please see details on page 66, email volunteering@cooltanarts.org.uk or phone 02077012696 Since the time of writing, Rachel Ball, our Volunteer Co-ordinator, has moved on to become Volunteer Manager at the Royal Air Force Museum. Thank you Rachel for all your hard work at CoolTan and good luck in your new role!

William Ball: In My Chair

Marjorie McLean: Untitled

Howard Luke: GM Frog

Summertime Blues

Amanda Bayeldeng: Untitled

Ade Ariyo: Untitled

Anna Maria Amato: Escaping the Blues

Horacio Bento: Peace of Mind

Florence Flaneur: Vincent

Ese Imonioro: Untitled

Aaron Pilgrim: Untitled

Summertime Blues runs until Friday 19th September

Liz Innes: The Flower Menagerie

Graeme Newton: Panic

CoolTanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next exhibition, Innovation and Transformation, opens on Tuesday 7th October

I am other, Set apart from the norm Of Homo Sapiens, A timorous soul, Ill-equipped, Lacking the emotional bulwark Inimitable to survival.

refl

My spirit adheres to pain, Is an attractant for trauma. I creak heavily with neurosis, Am laden with paranoia, Regarded by they who care not to know me With neither interest Nor charity.

ecti

on i

n th

e gl

ass

I am afeared of those Unheedingly cruel, sharp beings, Their icy judgement snaps my bones. I perceive myself to be insignificant, Amorphous, Yet still I might with melancholy Grieve the loss, Should my creative essence Diminish. But despite the fire of invention Steaming within To validate my existence, I flounder, Am cloaked in invisibilty, Cast no reflection in the glass. Rita Unger 20/7/2013

Image: John Raithby - A Window on Life (Drawing Inspired by Paul Nash)

Les Miserables

Gregory Baldeosingh talks to people who have attended A&E with Mental Distress... According to figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre mental health patients are twice as likely to attend Accident and Emergency departments as the general public.

...I had to wait three hours!

Stan attended A&E ten years ago when he was experiencing a deep depression. ‘I got there at 8pm but I had to wait three hours before I was seen’ he said. ‘I felt overwhelmed, it’s hard to admit with mental health problems when you are feeling crap about yourself’. Stan was seen by a nurse and then by a junior psychiatrist. ‘I got the feeling he was a bit young and didn’t really know what he was doing’, he said. ‘They sent me home, by this time I was feeling even worse. I think my experience would have been better if I had taken someone with me.’

One 2006 study found that up to 5% of A&E attendees were there primarily because of mental distress and a further 20-30% have symptoms of mental distress alongside other reasons for attending. Going to your local A&E department when experiencing a mental health crisis can be a daunting prospect. I spoke to several people about their experiences and how they felt about their visit to A&E.

... They sent me home, by this time I was feeling even worse... Jill arrived at A&E at 3pm but found it too difficult to stay. ‘I have bi-polar and I felt terrible while I was waiting.’ She soon walked out but then returned at 4.45 as she did not want to be seen as a time waster. ‘I felt quite calm by then but very sensitive,’ she said, ‘like I needed a rest away from the

people who were mistreating me.’ Jill found the staff ‘polite, direct and calm,’ however she said that what they wrote in her notes was not accurate and did not reflect the exchange she had had with medical staff. ‘They gave me no advice, they said the hospital couldn’t help and told me to go back home.’ Paul also found it too difficult to wait to be seen. ‘I waited for two hours and then got up and left. I went home and phoned the Samaritans. They called the mental health support number for me but nobody could come out as the support worker was on holiday.’ Paul was asked whether he was at risk of harming himself. ‘I told them I was at some risk and I wasn’t sure.’ The situation was not deemed serious enough for the support worker to break off their holiday. Eventually Paul went to see his GP. ‘I waited 5/6 days for an appointment. It was worth the wait to see my own GP.’

...The woman I saw was cocky and made jokes about my physique. Brian had already had one admission to a psychiatric ward 20 years previously. This time around he was living in a hostel when he became unwell. ‘I left the hostel very early one morning and walked to the A&E department. I arrived there at 6 in the

morning,’ he said. As the emergency department was not busy at that time of day, Brian was seen almost straight away. He was not happy with the care he received from the nurses: ‘The woman I saw was cocky and made jokes about my physique. I had to repeat what I had already talked about four times.’ Out of the people I spoke to, Brian was the only one who was admitted to hospital. ‘They found me a bed at the Maudsley Hospital. I had been through a relationship breakdown and for the first four or five nights I couldn’t sleep. At first I could come and go as I pleased but later on my leave was restricted, even though one of the nurses said I was not unwell enough for this measure. ’Brian stayed in hospital for three months and on discharge, he was allocated the Housing Association property he has lived in ever since.

The main problems that emerge from speaking to people who have been through this experience are long waiting times (especially difficult for people in severe mental distress) and being turned away without any further source of help. With the current rounds of cuts affecting both mental health services and A&E, these experiences can only become more common. The other complaint is an occasional lack of respect from A&E staff. Even in times of austerity, this is something that could be tackled.

Where to get help in a crisis • If you feel unsafe and need immediate help go to your local A&E Department, where the psychiatric liaison team can help you (24 hours a day, 365 days of the year) • During the day, if you’re with a community mental health team (CMHT) please contact them first of all and ask for your care coordinator or duty worker. • If you need less urgent help contact your GP, out of hours GP service or Community Mental Health Team (CMHT)

Other sources of help Samaritans: 08457 909090 SANEline: 0845 767 8000 Images By: RubyGoes, Elliot Brown, Steve Bowbrick

Artist’s Profile

Saffron Saidi

She has been a regular at CoolTan's art workshops and classes for three years. She uses a large variety of media and works mostly in 3D.

By Andrea Cornfield I chat with Saffron one Thursday in June after her art class and am struck by her up-front approach to sharing her story. Saffron started at CoolTan three years ago, beginning with the general art group on Fridays then branching out into other projects. Her background is in art, photography and textiles. Her mother’s side of the family is very artistic and her father was a carpenter. She describes her childhood as ‘quite disturbed’ - her mother died when she was a very young child and her father when she

was only twenty. She completed a BTEC National Diploma in Photography and went on to do a Pre-foundation Art course before being accepted at Westminster University and studying on a Photography Degree course. When she was 28/9, part way through her degree, she discovered she has learning disabilities. She has dyslexia, body dysmorphic disorder and also nodular prurigo which affects the skin. ‘I didn’t have anyone to support me when I was doing my degree and found out all of that’. At this time, her mental health

13Cubes of Anxiety by Saffron Saidi for the Anxiety Week Exhibition, June 2014

worsened and it’s clear from the way she talks about it that this was a really tough time to get through. The university didn’t have a support system and as she didn’t have family to turn to either, she was left to cope alone which resulted in her being unable to finish her degree. Since joining CoolTan, Saffron has explored many different media, mostly in 3D. She took part in a paper-making workshop, for example, in which a group piece was created, forming a huge threedimensional sunflower. For The Dickens News project she produced a piece in 2D, creating a design cut from lino. Sometimes she combines 2D with 3D, as in her interactive piece, 13 Cubes of Anxiety, produced for the Summertime Blues exhibition this summer. ‘I used

a mixture of creative poetry - sourced, not my own - and quotes, printed in 2D and positioned on 3D painted wooden blocks...I painted the blocks red to represent anxiety and there are thirteen blocks because that’s considered an unlucky number.’ She explains enthusiastically that the blocks are

meant to be handled and played with but that people don’t pick them up, probably because they’re used to not being allowed to touch art. ‘I think I’ll put out a sign so that people will know’ she muses. ‘Sometimes inspiration comes from my experiences and sometimes from exhibitions I’ve been to’, Saffron says. The ‘head’ sculpture she made for International Women’s Day was inspired by seeing an exhibition at the Tate by American artist, Ellen Galagher, and then taking part in a workshop. ‘Galagher mixes 2D and 3D and had made all these women’s heads with 3D hair made from plasticine.’ She explains how she created a papier maché mould of a head and researched the 100 most influential women of all time. ‘I looked into everything from politics and medicine to art, photography, music ... I printed little portraits of the women from the internet in black and white. Then I found these little circle mirrors in a supermarket and I thought about Ellen Galagher and how I could make something similar but from different materials.’ Saffron motions to a shelf on the art room wall behind me where I see an unexpected, multi-faceted sculpture with circular mirrored planes covering the entire head and neck and

‘Art is the only thing I can relate to and feel comfortable with. I'm not like most people. When I do artwork it's emotional for me. When I'm finished I'm really proud of it. I take it seriously. I think I'm just as good as some of the professionals out there but because of my mental health I'm held back.’

extending across the front to hide the features like a full-face mask. It has an edgy look. For a moment I make the connection of women having to fight to be individuals and to have a voice in society. Then when I look more closely, I see that whilst the mirrors create a geometrical pattern, they also act as miniature picture frames to the portraits which look out from their centres and also from between them. I find my eye drawn alternately to the portraits and the mirrors between them where I can see myself and the surrounding space reflected. My instant reaction is a positive sense of viewing these remarkable women and their endeavours as inspirational influences woven for ever into history and therefore into our modern day reality. What is Saffron working on at the moment? ‘I’ve just finished on a project, At The Crossroads With Vincent, with CoolTan and Art Angel, where we had our voices recorded reading parts of letters by Van Gogh. ‘I was very nervous having my voice recorded. I don’t even recognise my voice when I hear it!’ She describes how life has changed for her since first coming to CoolTan, ‘At the start I would come completely covered, even with dark glasses on all the time ... I wish I had started coming to CoolTan earlier. I’ve met amazing people here. It gives me purpose to get up in the morning. Hearing people’s comments about my work is great for me. Before CoolTan I’ve never been able to show any of my art.’ In her characteristic spirit of openness, she tells me, ‘None of my family has ever seen any of my work, but I feel like I’ve got a new family at CoolTan ... when I tell people about CoolTan, I praise it so highly. I like Michelle because she’s a working, practising artist and has experienced mental health problems herself. I can feel safe and comfortable here. People are so willing to help if you’re stuck or want advice.’

What are her own favourite artworks? ‘A couple of years ago I did a photographic self-portrait with my dalmatian, with my face painted. Another favourite piece from recently is a 3D wooden book called Circles of Dot Dot.’ Saffron’s favourite artists include - ‘David Hockney for his series of images in Polaroid format. Irving Penn for his portraits. Dom McCullem, a documentary war photographer. Also Diane Arbus who committed suicide in the 70’s. ‘I related to her. She seemed to have made a real connection by wanting to photograph people who would normally be ignored such as people in asylums or people from circus freak shows. Another favourite artist of mine is Richard Bellingham who photographed the day to day life of his parents, living on the dole. A lot of people might find photography like that disturbing. It’s quite intrusive photography but I like it. It made me think about my own dad.’ Saffron also likes Banksy, Matisse for his paper cut-outs and Damien Hirst, whose exhibition she visited with CoolTan. Her favourite artists have one thing in common: their work is gritty, edgy and hard-hitting.

‘Yeah, I like people who are saying something with their art.’ Finally, I ask Saffron where she sees her art taking her in the future. Her answer is characteristically ‘in the moment’: ‘tonight I’m going to see if I can do a piece on World War I. I took documentary photographs at war protests about a decade ago. I did a series of pictures on symbols associated with war. I’d like to do a collage with them using Photoshop and include some song lyrics.’

MOBILE FITNESS EXERCISE APPS By Caroline Sparrey

With our ever growing hectic lifestyles and sometimes costly gym memberships, a growing number of people today are now turning to mobile exercise apps in order to establish a fitness regime. Accessing an exercise app is simple and usually very cheap and quick to download to your mobile phone. Most mobiles these days have a touch screen button allowing you to access an online app store. A list of exercise related apps can be accessed from the menu and downloaded in many cases for free and if not then for as little as £1.00 per app. There are many different types and subjects can range from a walking app which counts your steps to a yoga or aerobics app which guides you through daily workout routines. Some have built in features that can advise you further on subjects like how many calories you have burnt as well as offering you dietary advice. Apps may not be for everyone however as some may find it easier to attend classes and be in a group atmosphere; or be encouraged by the one to one contact of a personal trainer. For this article I have asked different people about the apps they use and how effective they feel they are as part of an ongoing exercise routine.

“Mobile Relationship” by Manu Cornet

App Reveiws App: Workout Timer, Free

Reviewer: Emily, 33, Gloucester Phone: Samsung Galaxy S3 The app: You can programme a list of exercises and say how long you wish to do each exercise. It beeps to inform you to move onto your next exercise when the time is up! Use: Not as often as I should! About once a week Effective? Extremely easy to set up but just as easy to delete programme which I have done. Would be more effective if I used the app more often! Rating: 3-4

Wellbeing App: S Health, Free

App: MapMyWalk, Free

Reviewer: Caroline, 33, Surrey Phone: Samsung Galaxy S4 The app: It counts your steps while walking and then calculates the distance you walk and the calories you burn off whilst doing this. Use: Every day whilst walking Effective? Yes! It suggests you do 10,000 steps a day which gets you moving Rating: 4 out of 5 as it encourages walking.

Reviewer: Ash, 38,Gloucester Phone: iPhone 4 The app: Logs your walking & iincludes distance, speed, route and calories burned. This can then be uploaded to a website with further features. Use: Daily Effective?: Yes. It helps me keep track of my weekly mileage and how much more walking I need to do to keep my average up. Rating: 4.5 out of 5

App: 100 Push Ups, Free

App: Zombie Run, £2.49

Reviewer: Naseer, 32, London Phone: iPhone 4 The app: Helps novice gym users to be able to perform 100 push-ups. It gives a count down to rest breaks between sets and logs their progress. Use: Twice a week Effective?: Yes! There’s a clear video that shows users the correct form. I can now perform 100 push ups. Rating: 4 out of 5

Reviewer: Mark, 34, Surrey Phone: iPhone 4 The app: It motivates you to run by integrating a post-apocalyptic zombie story into your fitness programme. You are basically running from zombie attacks and the app prompts you to run when they are near. Use: Once a week Effective?: If used every day, it’s a fun way to exercise. Rating: 5 out of 5

Aspects of Poetry: Poets on Poetry Reach for the Sky Garry Stevens Poetry is a passion Read with warmth and much compassion Words fall like rain And like time they ease the pain Poems make great conversation Thoughts leave your mind like Trains leaving the station Happy Sad Or with lots of gloom A well-read poem can light up a room So please be happy and do not cry Try writing a poem and reach for the sky

Image: Mike Fox - Long Road Ahead

Poetry

What is poetry?

Anti-Poem

To turn your life to words And catch the moment Not on your instant I-phone cameras But in clumsy EnglishYet I can never find the words I need Thoughts and feelings slip between the cracks May be my words were not created?

Jan Wallcraft

Who made our language? As Shakespeare’s Caliban said: “You taught me language and And my profit on’t is I know how to curse The red plague rid you For learning me your language” I never felt the words were mine I hid beneath the table, and said I was a cat When asked to tell a nursery rhyme for guests But in the end I learned – to read and write and speak But I forgot to live and be myself Image: Lucy Martin - Biology

Poetry Isley Lynn Poetry can be Long or very short, you see Why, just look at me!

Image: Marjorie Mclean - Collage and Painting Inspired by Paul Nash

I feel in a poetic situation So cool, so with it, so stated, Rhyming accentuated Pauses culminating the verses To traverse the meanings Groove on, check! Scotto Heron, check! With colossal collars vivid colours In the zone in the moment Repeat my hip situation Not mincing but style rhyming, Taking my time and Flowing through the motions On oceans of sentences Rolling my R’s Taking my P’s and Q’s To another level, in the scene, Just my scene man Just my poetic scene

Just my scene Charles Browne

These poems were written by members of CoolTan’s Poetry Group, who meet on Thursdays at CoolTan Arts. If you would like to join the Poetry Group or another workshop at CoolTan, see page 66 for how to get involved. Image: Noriko Cachunou

SPICED CHICKPEAS

WITH CURRIED ROAST VEGETABLE & MINTED RAITA SPICED CHICKPEAS 3x 400g tins of chickpeas 1 tbsp. vegetable oil ½ medium red onion 2 tsp of cumin 3 tsp of garam masala 1 tsp of turmeric A handful of chopped fresh coriander Salt to taste

SERVES 5

CURRIED VEGETABLES 2 courgettes 1 aubergine 2 peppers (red and yellow) 5 pieces asparagus (chopped) 1 large red onion METHOD 10 Cherry tomatoes Pre heat oven to 200 degrees. 3 tbsps. mustard oil Chop Veg listed under curried roast veg into wedges and chunks. ½ tsp smoked paprika Fry curried veg spices in pan for 2 minutes until fragrant. 1tsp Garam masala Toss chopped veg in oil and spices separating pepper and asparagus ½ tsp ginger & hold to one side. 2 cloves garlic Roast veg excluding pepper and asparagus for 8 minutes then add ½ tsp turmeric these two ingredients, after a further 3 minutes add the cherry tomatoes.

MINT RAITA 4 tbsp. plain yoghurt 2 tsp olive oil Fresh mint to taste

In the meantime in a large wok heat a tbsp. of oil and fry the spices for the spiced chickpeas. After 1 minute add the chopped red onion and continue to fry until soft. Add the Chickpeas and cook until heated through adding the chopped coriander at the end. For the raita mix the yoghurt, oil and mint together to taste. Assemble the roasted veg and chickpeas with the raita drizzled

generously over the dish.

Recipe by Mark Sparrey & Sarah Keane

GINGER SPONGE

Food

This recipe is from Food For Mood: A CoolTan Arts Cookery Book CoolTan Books, ÂŁ9.99

INGREDIENTS

100g margarine 140ml boiling water 225g self-raising flour 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 2 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp mixed spice 75g (3 level tbsp) golden syrup 100g caster sugar or soft dark brown sugar

This recipe contains no eggs or dairy.

METHOD

Pre-heat the oven to 160Â°C / gas mark 3. Line a 20cm round or 18cm square tin (should be 4cm deep) with baking paper and grease it. Place the margarine and golden syrup in a small basin. Pour over the boiling water and leave until the margarine has melted, stirring if necessary. Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda, ginger and mixed spice into a bowl. Stir in the sugar. Make a well in the centre, pour in the syrup mixture and, with a wooden spoon, beat until smooth. Pour into the prepared tin and bake above the centre of the oven for about 35 minutes or until firm and springy. Cool in the tin. Keeps well in an air-tight tin for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months, wrapped in cling film or a plastic bag. Recipe by Marjorie McLean

Graphic Design

Hi there my name is Afey Yacob and I have been learning Graphic Design since 2010 ... The images above are all examples of my work. I have been into Design since I was inspired by a flyer which was advertising an art exhibition in Highbury (Islington). Some day I hope to inspire another budding Graphic Designer like myself. I find doing Design work is quite therapeutic and I hope to continue ... Afey Yacob.

Getting Personal

Some people receive help from the Local Authority to meet their social care needs. In recent years, the way these needs are met has been changing. Lillian Nalumansi investigates ... Instead of being directed to one-size-fitsall services provided or commissioned by the Council, people with social care needs are now being allocated money individually to purchase the services that are most appropriate for them. The money that people receive from Social Services is called a Personal Budget. Personal Budgets are a new way of allocating money which allows each personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s individual needs to be taken into account. This is called Personalisation. Everybody has the right to apply for a Personal Budget. Personal Budgets can be used to pay for anything that your Local Authority agrees will meet your social care needs. Examples include help at home, holidays, leisure activities and classes, specialist equipment, computer equipment, gym membership and alternative therapies.

How can I get a Personal Budget? 1) The Initial Needs Assessment. To find out if you are eligible for a Personal Budget you will need to speak to someone from your Community Mental Health Team, such as your psychiatrist, nurse or social worker who can support you through your application. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a mental health team, you can ask for your Initial Needs Assessment from your local Social Services team. You will have the opportunity to explain the things you find difficult and the things which help you and you will then fill out a selfassessment form. 2) The Outcome Based Assessment. If your Local Authority agree you have needs that are eligible for a Personal Budget, you will be asked to attend an Outcome Based Assessment. This is an interview with your CPN or Social Services Care Planner. The interview will focus in more detail on what things you find difficult or impossible and what can be put in place to help.

3) The Indicative Budget. Following the Outcome Based Assessment, the council will decide which of your support needs they will fund and will work out a rough budget. Personal Budgets will not affect your benefits but you may be required to contribute to the cost if you have sufficient funds. 4) The Support Plan. Once you have your Indicative Budget you will create a Support Plan. You can create this yourself but it is best to get advice first or enlist the help of your CPN, or Social Services Care Co-ordinator. Together you will consider the details of what your eligible needs are, how you want to use the money to meet them, what your goals are, how any risks will be managed and what support you are already receiving, including informal support from friends and family. Once you have drawn up your Support Plan, your key worker / Care Co-ordinator will pass it to the council for approval. 5) Approval. The Support Plan will be taken to a panel where the council will assess whether it will meet your eligible needs and whether any identified risks can be managed safely. The amount of money you are allocated will depend on your individual needs - there is no standard amount. 6) Receiving and spending your Personal Budget. There are various ways you can receive and spend your money. You might receive direct payments into a separate bank account set up for the purpose. You might decide to ask the council or another organisation to hold some or all of your budget and purchase services on your behalf. Your budget might be held and administered by an appointee if you find budgeting difficult yourself. 7) Review. Your Support Plan and Personal Budget will be reviewed from time to time to ensure it is still meeting your needs. It is important to keep all paperwork to show how you have spent your budget. If your needs change significantly, get in touch with your Care Co-ordinator or key worker to assess how this might affect your Personal Budget.

Personal Budgets: What’s Happening? At CoolTan, we have discovered that the experience people have varies substantially from borough to borough:

Julian’s story: Richmond

Julian’s is a success story even though it took several months to go through the process and sort out all the bureaucracy. ‘My Personal Budget covers everything I need,’ he says. ‘I make my own decisions and I don’t have people telling me what I can and can’t spend it on. My budget is looked after by an appointeeship scheme which helps me spend it appropriately. I have just got some money for art materials and a toolbox. It has been a great help.’ Julian’s Personal Budget initially only covered one workshop session a week. As art is very important to Julian’s mental wellbeing, CoolTan approached his Care Co-ordinator to make a case for his Personal Budget to cover three sessions per week. He has now received the money to do this.

Sarah’s story: Southwark

‘I was the first person in the whole of Southwark to go before the panel,’ says Sarah. ‘They said to come back and let them know how I get on but I still haven’t received any money. My MP had to be contacted to help and I filled in all the forms again with my CPN. It was a waste of her time as well as my own. It’s not fair on the CPN’s – they haven’t been given any extra time to do these applications.’ Sarah was told at the panel how much she would get. ‘It doesn’t go far,’ she says, ‘when I first came to CoolTan I could come in every day. Since Personal Budgets I’m not eligible for most things, just for one workshop a week and, because my money hasn’t come through yet, I owe CoolTan a lot of money. I’ve been doing more art at home instead but it’s only since I moved house that I’ve had the space. And of course I’m missing out on the social aspect which is very important for my mental wellbeing. When I am severely unwell I will just not go out. ‘Before, when I heard about a new project at CoolTan I would think, “That sounds great, I’ll enjoy that!” Now, the first thing I think is “Can I do it? Am I eligible?” It’s frustrating; before Karen - CoolTan’s Community Involvement and Advocacy Coordinator - got involved, I was having to be the go-between for lots of different agencies. Even though I am reasonably well most of the time, this would be too much to deal with at times when I am not well.

‘To anyone who is thinking of applying my advice would be to badger your CPN. If possible, find someone to help with your application as well. Make the most of help from staff at CoolTan or wherever else you go for support. ‘I agree with the ethos of Personal Budgets as they allow people to make decisions for themselves about how to meet their needs. It’s the process of accessing the money that is the problem.’ Since the time of interview, Sarah has finally received her money.

Saffron’s story: Lambeth

Saffron was told three years ago that she could apply for a Personal Budget. She was allocated a Support Planner through Thames Reach, a charity for homeless and vulnerable people. She wanted a budget to cover art materials, exhibition visits, art workshops and some help at home for when she is feeling unwell. All these things are vital for keeping Saffron well and out of hospital. A short way into the process her Support Planner left and she wasn’t allocated anyone else. Thames Reach and Saffron’s CPN then continued to pass the buck backwards and forwards. Saffron tried to keep following them up but it was hopeless. This state of affairs continued until 3 or 4 months ago when Karen phoned Saffron’s CPN who admitted she had put Saffron ‘on the back burner’ in order to deal with more urgent things. When Saffron tried following up her case for herself, the CPN told her to ‘be patient’! Shortly afterwards, Saffron’s CMHT discharged her without consulting her and she was therefore no longer eligible for a Personal Budget. Karen has written to the CPN, copying in the CPN’s manager, to ask them why Saffron has been discharged. She has yet to receive a reply. Saffron has a distressing skin condition for which she has been under consultant care. Her skin consultant has referred her to a psychiatrist because he believes her condition is rooted in her complex mental health issues. At the same time, because Saffron was discharged by the CMHT, she was declared fit to work and has had to undergo an ATOS assessment, during the course of which the CPN wrote to the DWP stating that Saffron would not be ready for work for two years. With these facts in mind, it is inconceivable that Saffron’s CMHT are not aware of how unwell Saffron is. Tara, CoolTan’s Self-Advocacy Trainer, is now pursuing Saffron’s case and she has been told Saffron will be getting a Personal Budget but Saffron is still, after over three years, at the very start of the process. She has had an Outcome Based Assessment but has not yet had an Indicative Budget.

Saffron said, ‘I don’t feel good. I haven’t been sleeping very well, I’ve been worrying about everything all the time. When I get home I don’t know what sort of letter from the authorities will be waiting for me. There’s no communication between agencies, I need to do all the running around all the time. ‘Why did the Government put Personal Budgets in place when they make it too difficult for people to apply? Councils aren’t educated about it. When I spoke to Lambeth nobody knew anything about them. I can’t be the only person in the system to be treated like this.’ Karen said, ‘The only reason this horrifying scenario hasn’t caused Saffron to deteriorate is because CoolTan has carried her and allowed her to take courses in exchange for volunteering. She has been suicidal at times because of the anxiety she feels about her access to supportive activities being cut off.’ Meeting people’s social care needs properly is what keeps them well and out of hospital, saving money in the long term and ultimately saving lives. It is clear that Personal Budgets are not working well for lots of people. Simon Duffy, who designed the system, has declared it a failure. In a Guardian article in January this year he described Personalisation as ‘an excuse for abandonment’, ‘the new bureaucracy’ and ‘an excuse to cut costs’. Duffy feels so strongly about the failure of the system he designed that he left his government job and issued a public apology through his organisation The Centre for Welfare Reform. While the basic idea of Personal Budgets is very positive - giving people with support needs more control over how those needs are met - poor implementation and lack of funds have created a situation where many people who need it are left with no support at all - for years in some cases. This is simply not good enough.

Advice and Support Mind Disability Rights UK Rethink National Centre for Independent Living advice line: 0845 026 4748 Citizen’s Advice Bureau

Images by @Doug88888, Philip Brewer, 401K and rosscrawford1

Dawn in Sussex At six am it is still dark A thick mist fills the field Slowly as we watch Light quickens The autumn sun rises Like a pale shimmering moon Whitened and softened By the curtain of the mist – Not dazzling Easy to gaze at.

EQUINOX

We know Our revels and our antics Are over for the year. The music and the laughter Must now be packed away And buried till next spring – But we have kept awake Around our fire For one last night And talked and laughed And sung till dawn Before we drive away To winterland. In Sussex In September At the Mabon sunrise We watch in a circle In this empty field Around the embers Of our last shared fire. In silence Holding hands Still hearing echoes Of lost music and laughter We remember a time of friends – And watch as summer ends.

38 Image by nick ford Misty Dawn

By Ann Fenn

Poetry

There’s nothing I REMOTELY wish to do and that includes just doing nothing too! For when I think of many things to do, just doing nothing is an option too. A jaded state like this may well appal. There’s nothing that I wish to do at all – not getting up, not going back to bed, not making tea, not eating toast or bread,

UTTER DEPRESSION

not washing, dressing, sorting dirty clothes (not NOW, at least, or else I’d utter oaths) no listening to music, reading books. No wish to watch those cheerful TV cooks. The radio? No thanks, but yet I found at home I cannot stand a lack of sound. I live along. I would not be at peace if all the noise around me were to cease. The papers? No, and no. I want no booze. What SHALL I do? I simply cannot choose. I won’t write letters, won’t write down my thoughts. Marks out of ten for moods like this? All noughts. I ring the Good Samaritans in despair; though strangers, they are here to show they care. ‘And are you feeling suicidal? ‘No.’ But yet, I add, ‘my mood is very low.’

Image: Tim Jerram - Untitled

This poem is from Anthropology - CoolTan Books, £5.99

IN THE

MORNING

By Peter Cox

Gregory Baldeo-Singh

Off your face

Bird of a Feather

I put these bits of Art work together over a period of a year and a half, under the tuition of Jaime Batitusta of The SMART Project, Wimbledon. Waldemar Garden. Wimbledon

Inca Images

Starfish Delta

Artwork

Looking Inside Out

Flat World Society

Most of the works are water colour, one or two are in Crayon. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realise that I could produce so many different styles, but there you are!

End of Autumn, Beginning of Winter

Anyone for cider?

Home, Sweet Home

Water under the Bridge, Parts 1 and 2

Parisian Boat Trip

Background Image: Roger McLassus - Surface waves

Jesus! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s you.

Bike Maintenance

By Hattie Lucas

Bike maintenance isn’t just something you think you should do in an ideal world. Keeping your bike clean is not a cosmetic issue. Keeping an eye on your bike is really important for cycle safety. It’s all very well knowing that you shouldn’t ride on the left side of a HGV, but you also need to know how worn the rim on your wheels can be before they buckle. You don’t want to be cycling along and your bike just falls apart beneath you – it does happen! So, look out for these signs that parts need to be replaced:

1) Chains

Your chain gets stretched as you ride more and it gets pulled from gear to gear. If your chain is too worn, it will start slipping off the gears and wear down your chainset and cassette much quicker. Check it regularly. You can either ask a bike shop if you can use their chain wear tool or you can do it without to get a rough idea. Shift into your highest (hardest) gear. Pull the chain as shown in the picture right. If your chain looks more like the second picture, your chain needs replacing. Normal

2) Brakes Change these when they get worn down significantly or are unevenly worn. If you don’t, they will eventually get to the metal, which will rub away at the rim of your wheel (not good).

Worn

Normal

3) Parts with â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;teethâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;: cassette, chainset, derailleur pulleys Replace these parts when the teeth start to look like sharkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teeth. Chainset

Casette

Derailleur Pulleys

Normal

Worn

4) Wheel rim If you have brakes that stop the wheels by pinching it, they will gradually wear away at the surface of the rim. This can eventually make the rim unable to withstand the pressure of the tire. Some rims have wear indicators, usually dots or a groove running around the braking surface. If your wheel started off with these markers, but they are no longer visible, it means that your rim has been worn down enough to need a replacement. If there were no markers on your rim, there is another way to keep an eye on it. Take a (metal) ruler and place it against the rim as shown in the picture. If there is 1mm between the ruler and the most worn part of the he rim, it needs to be replaced.

5) Brake and gear cables On a bike, you have the inner cables and the outer cables (or cable housing). Inner and outer cables are both made of stainless steel but the outer cables have a plastic covering to protect them from moisture and prevent the paint being scratched off the bicycle. Inner cables need to be changed when they are frayed. Bent, cracked, and/or rusted cable

Frayed cable

housing requires replacement.

Cracked cable

6) Headset and bottom bracket play

Squeeze the front brake with your right hand, hold the headset with your left hand, and rock the bike back and forth. If there is some play, the headset bearings need to be tightened or replaced. Take to your local bike shop.

Headset

Bottom Bracket Any ticking or creaking as you pedal? Grab one of the pedals and push it towards the frame and away again. If there is any play, the bottom bracket bearings need to be tightened or replaced.

8) Tyres Tyres: check for rips, bulges, excessive tread wear.

Normal

Worn

How the Steel was Tempered

Author Nikolai Ostrovsky’s struggle with disability gave hope to Chinese disability-rights campaigner, Zhang Haidi. By Tanya Zhu ‘Man’s dearest possession is life. It is given to him but once, and he must live it so as to feel no torturing regrets for wasted years, never know the burning shame of a mean and petty past; so live that, dying he might say: all my life, all my strength were given to the finest cause in all the world- the fight for the Liberation of Mankind.’ -Pavel Korchagin, hero of Nikolai Ostrovsky’s fictionalised autobiography, How the Steel Was Tempered. Unlike other Russian authors such as Dostoyevsky, Gogol, Tolstoy, Pushkin and Chekhov, Ostrovsky (1904—1936) is less known to the western world, although his novel, How the Steel Was Tempered, was translated into

Japanese, Chinese and Indian Tamil and films were produced based on this novel in Soviet Union, Yugoslavia and China. This may be because Ostrovsky died at the age of 32 and left his second novel uncompleted after suffering from paralysis, blindness, and typhus since 1927. Another factor which may have contributed to his lack of fame in the West was the world’s focus on the Great Depression between 1932 and 1936 when the novel was completed and published. However, the most important reason should be ideology.

Feature According to the official biography, Ostrovsky was born into a Ukrainian working-class family. He attended a parochial school until he was nine and was an honour student. Ostrovskyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family moved to the railroad town of Shpetivka in 1914 where he started working in the kitchens at the railroad station, and then became a stokerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mate. After this, he worked as an electrician at the local power station. When the Germans occupied his home town in 1918, Ostrovsky ran errands for the local Bolshevik underground and became a Bolshevik party activist. He joined the Komsomol (i.e. AllUnion Leninist Young Communist League) in July 1918 and the Red Army in August.

In 1920 he was reportedly wounded and contracted typhus. He returned to the army only to be wounded again and demobilized on medical grounds. Although he was officially declared an invalid in 1922 and deprived of almost all mobility and virtually bedridden in 1926, he continued working as the secretary and later the head of Komsomol district committee. He started a correspondence course at the Sverdlov Communist University in Moscow in December 1927 and completed it in June 1929. In August he lost his vision. Undaunted by his immobility and blindness, in 1930 he began work on his novel, How the Steel Was Tempered, which was renowned in the communist world and considered one of most influential works of communist literature.

of her appearance and social status of others than Pavel’s ideals, as he said, ‘I belong to the Party first and then to you and others. If you think that I should belong to you first, I will never become your good husband.’

Like Ostrovsky himself, Pavel Korchagin, the hero of the novel, was born into a poor Ukrainian family. Pavel, the novel’s protagonist, was dismissed from school and started to work in the kitchens at the railroad station when he was 12. During the German occupation of Ukraine (1918— 1919), Pavel got to know some Red Army men and his teenage love Tonia Toumanova. Tonia, who treated everyone equally, and Pavel became good friends after their first encounter, which later develops into an intimate relationship. Pavel left Tonia and his hometown in 1919 to join the Red Army. He soon became an excellent soldier and activist. Pavel finally terminated his relationship with Tonia, who became more aware

His health rapidly declined due to the harsh environment, strenuous work, road accidents and relapses of wounds during the war. Pavel even considered to commit suicide but finally he overcame desperation. He wrote Born of the Storm, the novel on the Russian civil war in Ukrain which Ostrovsky in fact failed to complete. Pavel finally received a telegram which said that the novel was highly praised and to be published. Most western protesters of the novel hold that it is only ‘a mythical product of Stalinism’, which deprived people of creativity and the rights to pursue normal love. This opinion certainly attracts strong objection from proponents of the novel.

Whatever opinions critics hold, the Chinese version of the novel was printed and published 57 times from 1952 to 1995 and did encourage several generations of Chinese people to face their lives and exploit their own values with positive attitudes. Zhang Haidi, a famous Chinese lady born in 1955 and paraplegic since 1960, attempted suicide in her youth but is still alive today. She completed all courses throughout primary school to university by self-study and learned acupuncture and foreign languages. Her report, As a Meteor, It Should Leave Light to the World, published in 1983, attracts wide attention. She graduated in 1993 with her Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Degree in Philosophy and submitted several proposals on driving licenses for disabled people around 2000. She served as member of committee of the first, second and third National Federation of Disabled, President of the third National Conference of Disabled, deputy chairman of National Association of Chinese Writers in Shandong Province, deputy chairman of National Youth Federation in Shandong Province.

She was awarded an honorary doctorate by University of York in the UK on 24 March 2013 and was known as contemporary of Pavel Korchagin in China. I have seen Zhangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent images. People can never believe that this beautiful woman was nearly 60 years old and that she spent most her lifetime in wheelchairs at their first glance at her pictures. Whether or not a mythical product of Stalinism, the fact that as an essential part of History of Russian Literature How the Steel Was Tempered and its author Ostrovsky did contribute to mental well-being of people with various cultural background is undeniable. As a book that truly reflects the life of Ostrovsky and history of Soviet Union preceding the Second World War, it is a component of legacy of Russian Literature which has specific literary, historic and philosophic values.

Julian Roskelly

Interview by Jill Spencer

progressive and imaginative, it’s of the spirit.’ Julian has been coming to CoolTan for about nine years. ‘It’s rewarding, satisfying,’ he says. ‘There’s a positive atmosphere to work in. I enjoy meeting with others.’ Together we look at some of his recent pieces. They are large works on paper, mostly in shades of white, black and grey: abstract compositions of lines and shapes that convey balance, rhythm and movement across the surface. ‘Some people have said that my work reminds them of plans for structures,’ Julian tells me. ‘I’m influenced a lot by certain styles of architecture. I like the symmetry of Palladian buildings and also Modernist

... I like the Russian avant garde constructivists

Julian Roskelly is one of CoolTan Arts’ most prolific and distinctive artists. I meet him after his art class on a Wednesday to learn more about him and his work .

... I would describe my work as progressive and imaginative

‘I started making art when I was about ten. I was making all sorts of art back then,’ Julian tells me. ‘My work has changed over the years, it has progressed. I would describe my work as

architects such as Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright. Then there’s Buckminster Fuller, whose geodesic domes show another kind of symmetry. I’m very interested in mathematics.’ Subtle effects of light and shadow are created by the use of white paint on

white paper. Dark lines in pen, pencil and black paint divide and organise the space. Certain semi-abstract motifs are used repeatedly across whole series of works - sharp cog-like teeth, pieces of clock faces, structures suggestive of metronomes and piano keys. Elsewhere, elements of collage are added: classical columns and statuary, chameleons, more clock faces. Reading these works is like trying to decipher cryptic crossword clues, or perhaps interpret dream imagery.

Artist’s Profile

... Some people have said that my work reminds them of plans for structures

Other inspiration comes from the Constructivists and Vorticists. ‘My influences include Vladimir Tatlin and El Lissitzky. I like the Russian avant garde constructivists. I find their work very exciting.’ Julian tells me. The similarities are clear to see, especially with Lissitzky’s Proun series of works. Like Julian, Lissitzky was enigmatic when asked about the meaning of his work. After much public conjecture, Lissitzky defined Proun as ‘the station where one changes from painting to architecture’ – a description that would not be inappropriate for Julian’s work as well. While most of his work is on paper, Julian occasionally moves into 3D. ‘I used to build scenery for shows all over the West End. I enjoyed moving the scenery and the carpentry work.’ We look at images of an installation he has made. The work consists of a series of black boxes – ‘maquettes’, Julian tells me – that can be assembled in different orders.

Each box shows a different configuration of elements, repeated and slightly altered across the series. Chameleons and classical columns adorn the front surfaces, blocking half the view into the box interiors, where abstract designs in black, white, yellow and red inhabit the spaces at various depths. ‘My works are all parts of series. I can’t really explain the process. I have a bit of a block when it comes to explaining my work.’ Julian tells me. ‘I like to work in gouache and Conté crayon, with a bit of metallic paint sometimes.’ Although most of his work is monochrome, a little colour creeps in on occasion - rich gold paint or a dash of red. In one recent work, a diptych called Purple Movement,

a small, faint touch of purple is shifted from one point to another on the two near-identical paintings. ‘One of the inspirations behind my work is the idea of telekinesis: the theory that the mind can move objects. My dad was a doctor of psychology and we had some poltergeist activity when I was a child, so that’s part of where this inspiration came from.’ Where will Julian’s artwork take him next? ‘I’d like to sell some more work,’ he tells me, ‘I sold some work to some people at Springfield Hospital in Wandsworth for £1000. I’d also like to exhibit more.’ It’s always great to see Julian’s work included in CoolTan’s exhibitions but it would be interesting and possibly enlightening to see all his work together in a solo show.

Maquettes

Purple Movement

A Glastonbury Tale By Ann Fenn The Green Fields end of Glastonbury Festival is, for want of another suitable descriptive word, the “hippy” area of the festival. Away from the big stages, the headline bands, the commercial retail outlets at the bottom of the site, it retains

the atmosphere that early “free” festivals probably had. It is undeniably “chilled out” to use another well worn term. There is more space, less noise, and the grass survives even in the legendary mud times of Glastonbury. There are stalls, tents and marquees promoting “Green” issues. There are craft areas, alternative therapies and healing areas, a Green market, discussion tents, cinema tents and some seriously good music tents. Everything is solar powered or wind powered – no generators allowed.

Feature felt like a time warp – I felt as if I was back in the Sixties. So much seemed the same, the ethnic clothes, the hair styles, the determinedly alternative antimainstream thinking. Instead of being long gone, it seemed that ideas and lifestyles from the Sixties had continued in the subcultures of festivals and travellers into the Nineties. It all seemed very familiar. But while I was enjoying the experiences of my first Glastonbury in many ways, I was also still carrying my downside feelings around with me. That night, still in the Green Fields, I found a bench and sat alone trying to decide what to do with my life. As I was looking up at the stars, I realised that I could hear music nearby, and it was music I really loved. It was coming from a small music tent not far away. I went across and found the tent bursting with music and people dancing...... and I had my Glastonbury moment. I felt that something shifted, and, suddenly, I was back in touch with my base, and also feeling a great sense

When I arrived there that Saturday, it

of togetherness with other people. People have told me since that, in spite of the crowds, music and mayhem of Glastonbury Festival, there is a magic that happens there that lets people find themselves again. I certainly felt it that night. I stayed at that music tent and I danced, I talked to people, I danced, I listened to people, I danced and laughed with people till morning came.

....there is a magic that happens there that lets people find themselves again.

Then, there was a small crowd of maybe two hundred gathered in and around the stone circle that stands in In the evening, I went up to the highest, steeply sloping field of the farm to watch the sunset. Now, that field becomes crowded and noisy with the centre of the field. It’s a reconstruction, I think, rather than an original prehistoric monument, but it didn’t seem to matter. A large group of drummers played as the sun set behind Glastonbury Tor in the distance and then continued to drum hypnotically throughout the night. Below us, the lights of the festival glimmered in the darkness across the wide valley.

I had got rid of the negative feelings I had come with and now felt good about myself , life and others. At some point during the night, a naked girl climbed onto one of the largest stones and danced for a long time to the drumbeats. Somehow, it wasn’t crass and embarrassing, it was poignant and innocent. She looked beautiful and unreal, like a vision from some pagan past.

I spent the day that followed, the last day of the festival, in the Green Fields, looking around, listening to more music and talking to many people, all of whom were open and friendly – no barriers, no reserve. I responded in kind. I had got rid of the negative feelings I had come with and now felt good about myself , life and other people partying through the night.

The night passed and, at last, I went back to my car to rest before going back to London. I had come to Glastonbury Festival feeling dispirited and alienated, but now I was leaving feeling re-energised and rejuvenated, and determined to get more of the experiences that I had so much enjoyed. I knew that festivals would become part of my life.

Images By Ann Fenn, Mathew Cobby, Rachel Doherty, Auntie P, Alan, Russ Garrett

Waterloo Festival By Andrea Cornfield In June this year, as part of the Waterloo Festival, CoolTan Arts took part in a collaborative project involving CoolTan poets and artists working together with Southbank Sinfonia. The theme of the project was WAR and the World 1914, marking the centenary of the outbreak of World War I.

Mike Fox - Ghosts of Summers Past - Pencil on Paper

Mike Fox - Anticipation - The Big Push - Ink on Paper

Ashleigh Hernes - Anybody - Acrylic on canvas

Jean Cozens - Metamorphosis - Mixed Media

Howard Luke - Dancing Around

Tony Yeru - Face - Acrylic on Paper

Review Over the course of several sessions, the musicians performed whilst CoolTan artists and poets worked to the music, drawing inspiration from it and responding to the performance and the theme whilst at the same time, expressing their own feelings about mental distress. The result was a performance and an exhibition entitled Fragments, both taking place at St. Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church in Waterloo, the hub of the Waterloo Festival.

Too Perfect Why perfectionism is the enemy of productivity By Hattie Lucas ‘Perfectionism is not a quest for the best, it is a pursuit of the worst in ourselves, the part that tells us that nothing we do will ever be good enough – that we should try again.’ - Julia Cameron It is a common misconception that perfectionism is a positive characteristic and conducive to excellent results. Perfectionism actually has its roots in anxiety, the desire for control, and the inability to tolerate uncertainty. I will explain how perfectionism goes hand in hand with procrastination and productive paralysis; it relies on a vicious circle of high expectations, perceived failure, and dismissal of achievements. But there are things you can do. Things that might make you a bit afraid, but are necessary for change. Many people have perfectionist tendencies and these can be helpful in moderation, but there is a tipping point where high standards become unrealistic and rigid. It is at this point where perfectionist tendencies become unhelpful and distressing. Perfectionism, in a nutshell, is the subconscious or conscious belief: ‘If I make sure that everything is “just right”, I will be safe and everything will be ok.’ This is a distorted view that sets perfectionists up for anxiety, anger, depression, and low self-esteem.

Procrastination

There is a bitter irony at the heart of perfectionism: the more of a perfectionist someone is, the less they are likely to actually achieve anything. This is because procrastination is the companion of perfectionism. People maintain such unrealistic and inflexible standards that they often cannot bear to begin or complete a task for fear that it will not live up to these standards (it seldom does). They want, understandably, to avoid intense feelings of failure.

This image is an example of ‘wabi-sabi’, the Japanese aesthetic which, among other things, finds beauty in imperfection.

Wellbeing

Overcompensating

Perfectionists tend to take an inordinate amount of time on tasks because they feel compelled to ‘make sure’ that what they produce is the best possible result. For example, if a non-perfectionist were to browse the Internet to book a holiday, they might compare prices and reviews from a few different websites. A perfectionist, on the other hand, might trawl the Internet to find the ‘perfect’ holiday. As such a thing does not exist, they will spend hours/days/weeks doing this. When a potential option is found, it will be analysed for inevitable imperfections. The option will be discarded and the search will continue ad infinitum. The perfectionist becomes more and more distressed. To add to their distress, perfectionists also berate themselves for spending more time on a task than is absolutely necessary. Anxiety about their perceived failure to find the ‘perfect’ holiday increases as more and more options are ruled out. Eventually a perfectionist will give up the search, but not before they are feeling thoroughly stressed out, anxious, and guilty about the fact that they spent five hours researching with nothing to show for it. Perfectionism is maintained by a vicious circle of unrealistic expectations and perceived failure of those expectations: Belief that self-esteem will only be restored if unrealistic standards are achieved

Unrealistic standards

Anxiety, guilt, and loss of self-esteem Possible procrastination

Self-criticism Perceived failure to meet standards

Reset standards even higher

Unrealistic standards

Decide that standards weren’t high enough

Possible procrastination

Standards reached

What you can do ... The idea is that you are slowly and gently trying to relax your unrealistic standards a little, and seeing that not only does the world not end, but you end up feeling relief that you are no longer bound by such unforgiving rules. • Face your fear. If you fear is that you make a spelling mistake in an email, make one in an unimportant email. Do this over and over again until you realise that it is not the end of the world if this happens. • Be compassionate to yourself. Accept that your perfectionism comes from anxiety and that it should be treated with sensitivity. • Identify areas in your life in which you feel like you are overly perfectionistic. For example, it might be: money, relationships, exercise, or work. You might feel like your perfectionism pervades your life. • Practise practise practise! You won’t change the way you think and feel about something if you only do it once. It’s important to do it again and again until you feel comfortable with it.

• Take small steps. It would be counter-productive to immediately address your ultimate fear. So break it down into smaller steps and approach these one-by-one where you feel like you are making progress but it is not overwhelming. • Just 5 minutes. If you find yourself procrastinating, try the ‘just 5 minutes’ approach. This is pretty self-explanatory but the idea is that you do a task for five minutes, that way it seems more manageable. The idea is to stop something the thought of which is so overwhelming that you never even start.

Web Resources:

Overcoming Perfectionism - This Information Package from the Centre for Clinical Interventions is designed to help you understand what is helpful and unhelpful about being a perfectionist.

Books:

Overcoming Perfectionism: Roz Shafran, Sarah Egan, and Tracey Wade; Robinson Publishing (2010). When Perfect Isn’t Good Enough: Martin M. Antony and Richard P. Swinson; New Harbinger Publications (2009).

Another awesome quote from Julia Cameron to finish… ‘Perfectionism doesn’t believe in practice shots. It doesn’t believe in improvement. Perfectionism has never heard that anything worth doing is worth doing badly--and that if we allow ourselves to do something badly we might in time become quite good at it. Perfectionism measures our beginner’s work against the finished work of masters. Perfectionism thrives on comparison and competition. It doesn’t know how to say, “Good try,” or “Job well done.” The critic does not believe in creative glee--or any glee at all, for that matter.’

Creative products from CoolTan Arts

CoolTan Books

A Postcard to the World

CoolTan Books, price £7.50 A beautiful collection of 14 original postcard artworks, created for our ‘A Postcard to the World’ mail art project.

Food for Mood CoolTan Books, price £9.99 A uniquely creative cookbook from CoolTan Arts, which will inspire you to cook and eat well whatever your mood!

Greeting Cards

Anthropology

by the CoolTan Poets CoolTan Books, price £5.99 An anthology of poetry by members of the poetry group at CoolTan Arts. ... a book of brilliant growling poems, dandified wild work ... funny, witty, moving, political, sassy, wise Ali Smith

Diagnosis: Hysteria? Prescription: Hysteria!

Poems by the Women of CoolTan Arts CoolTan Books, price £5.99 An anthology of poems by the participants of the CoolTan Arts Women’s Poetry Group and some of the female staff and volunteers who work there.

£2.50 Each -

Dimensions 11cm x 15cm This is a small selection, we have many more designs available. Free shipping and 20% discount on orders of 3 or more cards.

All items are available through CoolTan’s online shop, CoolTrade, or directly from CoolTan Arts reception. Drop in or contact olivia@cooltanarts.org.uk or phone 020 7701 2696

Textiles Aprons

Canvas bag

£10.50

Teatowel £10.50 100% cotton, printed with a fun, colourful design by CoolTan artists.

£5.50

Fairy Bag £10.00 Beautiful reproduction of a classic CoolTan artwork. 100% cotton canvas. More designs are available.

Teatowel £6.50 More designs of teatowels and bags are available.

Largactyl Shuffle Products Largactyl Shuffle Products come in our CoolTan orange with grey reflective straps.

High Vis Vest £15.00 Our Largactyl Shuffle logo is included in the front and back of the vest. Rucksack

£19.99

High visibility and water repellent.

Getting involved with Joining a Workshop At CoolTan Arts we offer a wide range of activities including visual arts, poetry, cooking, textiles, computer skills, walking ... Workshops are funded in different ways, so some workshops are free and open to everyone, and for others there is a fee to pay, or they are set up to support certain people. If you have general questions about workshops or would like a copy of the latest timetable, you can come in and speak to our reception volunteers, or to Olivia Moyes, our Admin Officer. You can also ring her on 0207 701 2696, or email olivia@cooltanarts.org.uk You will be asked to fill in a registration form before you can attend a workshop. If you have a social worker or are with a CMHT and are interested in joining a workshop, your registration form will be passed onto Karen Unrue, Community Involvement Advocacy Coordinator: karen@cooltanarts.org.uk or phone 0207 701 2696. Karen will contact you with more info about how to start at CoolTan Arts. Most workshops are advertised on our website: www.cooltanarts.org.uk and in our monthly newsletter, along with information about who the workshops are for and if you need to pay.

Volunteering at CoolTan Gain a unique experience with a lively independent Arts organisation! We have recently been awarded the Investing in Volunteers quality standard and have also won the Queen’s Award for Volunteering. There has never been a better time to volunteer at CoolTan Arts! Make friends, have fun, learn work skills and brush up on your talents in a safe, supportive environment. We usually have a wide variety of volunteering opportunities ranging from practical activities to admin and reception, graphic design to workshop assistants. We also have various volunteering roles with specific projects. There are lots of training opportunities, tailored to your volunteer role, and we pay up to £4.40 travel expenses per day. Opportunities are advertised on our website: www.cooltanarts.org.uk and in our monthly newsletter. You can also call in to CoolTan and ask to see the volunteering bulletin with all the latest roles in it. To find out more about volunteering or to apply for a role, please contact our volunteer coordinator volunteering@cooltanarts.org.uk or ring 020 701 2696. You will be invited to attend a Volunteer Induction Session. CoolTan Arts welcomes volunteers with disabilities.

If you would like to sign up for the monthly newsletter (sent to your email) please contact olivia@cooltanarts.org.uk or phone 0207 701 2696.

We Need Your Help! If you have enjoyed this magazine, please consider making a donation to CoolTan Arts. CoolTan Arts provide support in an area which has one of the highest incidences of mental distress in Western Europe. We enable people to develop their potential, reconnect with their aspirations, recover and enjoy life! Due to severe funding cuts to organisations like CoolTan Arts we need your help to ensure we can continue making a difference. All money raised is much needed and will go directly to support people with mental distress. Ways to donate: • • • other

Donate securely using JustGiving: www.justgiving.com/cooltanarts Use the form below to make a one-off or monthly donation Donate by text: Simply send COOL96 £3 to 70070 to make a £3 donation, or any £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10. It’s quick and simple!

CoolTan Arts believes mental wellbeing is enhanced by the power of creativity

HOW TO FIND US CoolTan Arts Third Floor 224-236 Walworth Road London SE17 1JE 020 7701 2696 or 0798 5658443 Email: info@cooltanarts.org.uk Web: www.cooltanarts.org.uk Tel:

*We are to the right of the main post office between a Specsavers Optician and Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Discount Store. To enter the building press 6 and the bell icon. Inside there is a lift (press 3 in lift) or stairs which you can take to the third floor. CoolTan Arts are there on the right.

* The nearest tube station is Elephant & Castle which is approximately a ten minute walk. *Buses from Elephant & Castle and Camberwell (get off at East Street stop) 12, 35, 40, 45, 68, 148, 171, 176, 468 & P5

CoolTan Arts Entrance

With thanks to our funders and sponsors

Recipient of the Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s award for Voluntary Service 2014 Member of Mental Health Providers Forum, Locality, NSUN and LAHF

We are proud to have as Patrons: Arthur Smith, Maggi Hambling, Ali Smith, Clare Allen and Rosemary Shrager Registered charity number 1064231, Company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales reg. 3244552