THE BIG ISSUES WATTS GALLERY
ART FOR ALL EXHIBITION 2014
Published by Watts Gallery, 2014 Watts Gallery, Down Lane, Compton, Guildford, Surrey GU3 1DQ 01483 810235 www.wattsgallery.org.uk Project led by Kara Wescombe Blackman, Head of Learning Publication designed by Francesca Salino, Marketing Apprentice Kerris Kaya, Marketing Assistant Photography by Agnieszka Czabak All images and text Š the artists and authors Publication Š Watts Gallery, Compton Front Cover, Paint Drain, Dena, HMP Send Back Cover, Man on a Cross, Elana, Surrey Youth Support Service All rights reserved. No part of this catalogue may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
The Big Issues Project is supported by
system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher and copyright owners. Watts Gallery is a company limited by guarantee (company number 6147572). Registered office as above. Charity No. 313612. VAT Reg. No. 924 8349 02 With thanks to: John Bird MBE, Peter Blake, Sharon Blanch, Dr Helen Bowcock DL, Ben Byrne, Elizabeth Cake, Jo Clunie, Esther Coombs, Lucy Cordingley, Simon Cox, Sandy Curry, Karen Damon-Aspen, Stephanie Dennison, Anna Hennings, Anne Henry, David Hewitt, Perdita Hunt, Joyce Hyslop, Jake Jones, Amanda Kelly, Clare Kuznik, Carol McFarlane, Rebecca MacPherson, Sarah Mitchell, Lauren McCombie Smith, Kim Moody, Kelly Nethercoat, Sophie Nickeas, Anne North, Krzysztof Ochedowski, Richard Paxton, Adrienne Roberts, Sally Varah DL, Lynne Weddle, Tamsin Williams, Luke Woodger
THE BIG ISSUES EXHIBITION 2014 Watts Gallery working in partnership with: HMP Send HMP Bronzefield HMP/YOI Feltham Surrey Youth Support Service The Cellar Art Group Opportunities Street Level Arts Artventure
FOREWORD Dr Helen Bowcock DL, High Sheriff of Surrey One of the moments that I will treasure most from my year as High Sheriff, would be a painting that arrived unexpectedly in the post from a young woman with significant mental health problems. I had met her on my visit to Transform Housing and Support and as someone who rarely leaves the confines of her bedsit, she dedicates her time to art. She said in her letter; ‘You recognised straight away that I liked using symbolism in my work and recommended that I visited the Watts Gallery. I researched a little about George Frederic Watts and found a painting called ‘Hope’ in one of my British art books. I was so inspired that I decided to do you a painting as a gift.’ Poor mental health is a significant problem inside prisons and for many young people known to the police and social services. I have seen the way the Watts Gallery has reached out through the Big Issues programme to
work with prisoners and with our rather exceptional Surrey Youth Support Service and its clients. I have also seen the extraordinary way in which Watts continues to speak to people through his symbolic art, engaging some who really believed that art was not for them, providing a new purpose and a means of expression. When I took part, as a community guest, in a restorative justice programme at HMP Send, it was notable that some of the women held up paintings to express their regret because speaking to the audience was much too daunting. Given the involvement of Watts Gallery at HMP Send I wondered if, in some way, Watts’s legacy had played a role here too.
Opposite, Ben working in the studio of G. F. Watts, drawing at an easel for the very first time. Above, Opportunites working with designer Elizabeth Cake to design and make lampshades.
INTRODUCTION Perdita Hunt, Director, Watts Gallery The Big Issues project grows from strength to strength. Founded in 2009 with the visionary support of KPMG Foundation, this project has touched the lives of hundreds of underprivileged young people and adults, prisoners and those suffering from mental health difficulties and homelessness. The Big Issues project has grown out of the work of G.F. and Mary Seton Watts. They cared deeply about a number of social, cultural and environmental issues which are still pertinent today. These concerns are reflected in G.F Watts’s work, in philanthropic projects they supported and in public art and community art projects they founded. At the heart of their work was their belief that art could transform lives and they campaigned to widen access to art for people in society with least access to it. For example, they were involved with the establishment of the Whitechapel and South London Galleries in the poorest parts of London. In the East End, Mary Seton Watts gave clay modelling classes to the shoeblacks. In Compton, she led the creation of the Watts Chapel involving seventy local people to whom she taught craft skills in evening classes. The Gallery was founded with an adjacent hostel for apprentice potters to offer skills and employment. The Big Issues project provides people affected by social exclusion with an opportunity to work with a professional artist to explore the collection at Watts Gallery and the ideas behind it, to learn art and design skills and express ideas and issues they care about. Each year we face a number of challenges. Will there be enough funding? Will we have the resources to meet the demand? Will there be changes with our partner institutions? Will the participants living in challenging circumstances stick with the programme or find that their difficulties and crises overwhelm them? Despite these hurdles, with the generous support of donors, partners and volunteers, Watts Gallery Trust is able to continue to offer to participants
a ‘second chance’. There is an opportunity to engage with a different part of the brain, a physical experience of working with different art and design tools and materials; a different environment in the Foyle Art for All Learning Studio and in the Gallery, exposure to working with an artist. Participants are offered the chance to show and sell their work through the annual exhibition and finally and importantly, a chance for a chat and a laugh. These are the ingredients of The Big Issues project. It has changed the lives of participants. An ex-offender sat beside me at a recent concert and said; ‘the Watts Gallery art workshops saved me. I had little hope and no self esteem. When I started the workshops, this was my turning point’. She is now in full-time employment and hopefully will be coming back to the Watts Gallery to engage in future art workshops! Thank you to all our supporters for making this possible.
Above, Mary Watts and students of her Home Arts and Industries Association class decorating interior panels for the Chapel in her studio at Limnerslease, c.1902 Opposite, Reach Higher, Louise, HMP Bronzefield
HMP SEND HMP Send is a female training prison, located in Surrey. It provides a supportive environment for prisoners to explore and change behaviours relating to their offending and has a Resettlement Unit and a Therapeutic Community. Sandy Curry, Michael Varah Artist in Residence has been delivering fortnightly workshops at the prison since 2009, mentoring the more confident artists in the group and encouraging all of them to submit work to the Koestler Awards. This year, the sculpture project made by the women in 2012, was exhibited as part of Prisons’ Week at Guildford Cathedral.
‘I am just so thankful that I have found art. It consumes me, I consume it and I want more and more like a thirst or hunger. I can always find something to do. I am always filled to the brim with new ideas and new possibilities.’ Charlie, participant HMP Send
Opposite Faith, Gunita, HMP Send Above, House, Charlie, HMP Send
HMP SEND Kelly Nethercoat, Head of Reducing Reoffending In 2007, the government-commissioned Corston Report highlighted the plight of vulnerable women in the criminal justice system and made recommendations for a more female focused approach towards their rehabilitation. Watts Gallery formed its partnership with HMP Send and recognised an opportunity to draw inspiration from the ideas and works of G. F. Watts by offering art for all. The Sisters In Art group was subsequently formed, offering the women of HMP Send opportunities of acquiring and practising new skills, an outlet for creative energies and emotions, recognition of achievements and encouragement to continue in the arts and education. Since then, the Watts Gallery Sisters In Art group has gone from strength to strength under the guidance of the Michael Varah Memorial Fund Artist in Residence. The group provides a supportive and encouraging environment in which the women find an outlet; to express emotions, promote positive connections, for self improvement and development of self worth, all contributing to a focus on life beyond prison. The group is made up of a variety of creative talents. Some are new to art but all come together to enjoy some fantastic creativity. Self esteem grows significantly when presented with the opportunity to display work in a gallery. Recognising that these women have talent, builds confidence and motivation. They are able to reflect on the path that led them to prison and the journey that they have to travel to rehabilitation. All are welcome and encouraged to develop.
here are a few of their comments: ‘I love to learn. The benefits of having work selected from exhibitions and the feedback received is an enormous confidence boost.’ ‘Without the Watts Project I would have found it difficult to imagine a future for myself beyond these walls as an artist.’ ‘Taking part in The Big Issues exhibition is a big deal for me. Acknowledgement that my work has been well received by the public spurs me on to paint and draw more.’ ‘Watts Gallery has confirmed to me that art is in my veins. It’s what makes me tick. It keeps me grounded.’ ‘It’s made me who I am, a better person.’ ‘It gives me time to reflect, to realise who I was and that I didn’t like the person that I was. I now see things differently.’ ‘Watts makes art accessible within the prison. I don’t go to Watts for self gratification nor to feed my ego but to push me to artistic heights.’ ‘I see art as part of my future, my fabric. It makes me who I am and makes me feel safe.’ ‘Art has given me confidence in myself and a possible career when I leave prison.’ It is an absolute pleasure to work with Watts Gallery and I look forward to our continued partnership.
Underpinning the project, is the desire for the women to contribute to the content of The Big Issues exhibition whilst developing and learning new skills. How do you measure the impact of art on these ‘Sisters in Art’? Having asked them,
Opposite, If Music be the Food of Love, Dena, HMP Send
HMP SEND - MICHAEL VARAH ARTIST IN RESIDENCE Sally Varah, Chair of The Michael Varah Memorial Fund ‘Outcomes’ and ‘impact’ are two words on the lips of most grant-making trusts. More than ever, we need to be sure that any initiative which receives funding really delivers what it says on the tin. As importantly, we need to know that the outcomes of a programme and its longer-term impact - on individuals, on communities, or on organisations - can be evaluated effectively, in order to prove whether a grant is making a positive difference. For our small charity, the positive outcomes for the women offenders participating in the Michael Varah Artist in Residence programme at HMP Send were evident to us within months of our first funding, in 2009. You just had to watch the women in workshops with the inspirational Artist in Residence, Sandy Curry and to talk with them one-to-one, to learn of the extraordinary and transformative ability of creative art to lift the human spirit. That is why we continue to fund the programme, now into a sixth year. It is our single longest funding alliance and one of which we are exceptionally proud. In each successive year, we have seen how art can motivate a sense of self worth and a passion towards a new life. We have witnessed the sense of new purpose experienced by these ‘Sisters in Art’ and the vital confidence they gain in their own abilities, triggered by art. The outstanding artwork you see in this current Big Issues exhibition reflects what has been one of the most exciting years for this programme, in terms of positive outcomes; for the women artists, for Watts Gallery and Sandy Curry (who recently retired after 6 years as Artist in Residence) and for our charity. In autumn 2013, the Koestler Trust which stages the annual Arts by Offenders exhibition at London’s South Bank Centre,
announced that the women artists in HMP Send had won ‘Most Awards for a female establishment’. This is an outstanding achievement. In all, an incredible thirty two Send artworks received awards and prize money. Women on our Artist in Residence programme created a high percentage of those pieces. In November, the Director of the Watts Gallery, Perdita Hunt and I joined Tim Robertson, Koestler CEO, when he visited HMP Send to talk with the women artists and present their certificates. Many of them had also had their artworks selected for the prestigious Koestler exhibition at South Bank. The longer-term impact of this ‘Art for All’ programme can be harder to track and evaluate, as the women offenders embark on resettlement. However, the past twelve months has yielded a life affirming success story. In February, our charity identified a potential job opportunity for one of the founder members of the Send programme, who was due for release on licence. She interviewed brilliantly and since March 2013, she has been working in a paid role for an enlightened national arts organisation – a vital step on her resettlement journey, after a fourteen-year sentence. She is unequivocal about the role of this programme in her rehabilitation: ‘My life changed when I walked into the Artist in Residence workshop at Send and met Sandy Curry’. The Michael Varah Memorial Fund is proud to collaborate with the Watts Gallery and welcomes the new HMP Send Artist in Residence, Mary Branson, who took up her role in January 2014.
Opposite, Pained Beauty, Melanie HMP Send
HMP BRONZEFIELD Lynne Weddle, Big Issues Art Tutor My practice is concerned with exploring a sense of self within photographic, film and visual arts works. I was extremley pleased to be invited to work on The Big Issues project. I worked at Bronzefield prison on a project based on creating self-portraiture. All participants were invited to explore how they see themselves, how they feel others see them and how they would like to be portrayed. We worked closely with a collection of Watts’s self portraits as inspiration, investigating how he used gesture, pose and playful dressing-up to promote different aspects of his character. A variety of media was available: drawing, painting, mixed media and textiles. This was challenging and it gave participants the chance to experience new ways of working. The focus was on reflecting how they would like to be represented within an artwork. Some used their artwork as a statement of what they are passionate about and some celebrated the positive aspects of themselves. Others created projections of their future selves. One participant, for instance, painted an animal with which she considered she shared similar characteristics. Everyone commented on how powerful it has been to step back, self-reflect and use art as a form of expression. I am grateful to all the staff at HMP Bronzefield and their warm welcome, energy and enthusiasm.
Above, Lost in the Present, Hope for the Future. Fiona, HMP Send
‘In a short time they swiftly focused on the positive side of their personalities including their hopes, dreams, happy memories, desires, interests, hobbies and friends.’ Peter Blake, Art Teacher HMP Bronzefield
‘I would just like to say thank you to Sarah and Lynne for all their hard work. I never thought I could do this but with their help and support I got there. I have enjoyed doing this course. I’ve gained my confidence back and instead of self-harming I’ve found that now when I get depressed I can just draw instead.’ Tracey Anne, participant
HMP/YOI FELTHAM David Hewitt, Art Teacher The Watts Gallery project was a great opportunity for the students to produce work for an exhibition, something they might not have had the chance to do outside of prison. The students are young offenders between 18 and 21 years old, detained for a variety of offences from petty theft to more serious crimes including assault and murder. The majority of them are from the London area but we have a large number from other parts of the country and overseas. Most of them have had some small degree of experience of art in school but for many this is their first time, particularly those from outside the UK. The students really enjoyed working with Sandy and although the idea of coming up with something original on the spot was difficult and daunting to many of them, they were very pleased with the work that they produced. Many of the learners used their current situation as inspiration for their paintings, whereas some drew on other life experiences and others created something more abstract and metaphorical. All in all it was an extremely positive and rewarding experience for the whole group.
‘It’s about hope. It’s about struggle.’ Marcus, participant
Sandy Curry, Big Issues Art Tutor I was fortunate to be able to go to Feltham young offenders’ prison for young adult males with the hope of inspiring them to create a painting for The Big Issues exhibition. Art is an amazing tool in accessing and engaging with young people in a very challenging environment. After a discussion and a close look at the Watts collection, the young men were flowing with ideas and eager to interpret their ideas into this visual collection of work. In just a few short days the young men, with little self-belief who did not think they could paint, developed ideas and vision and encouraged and complimented each other. Some participants thought that this is something they would like to pursue. I could see talent amongst this group and hope they will carry on with their creative endeavours.
OPPORTUNITIES Carol McFarlane, Project Co-ordinator The Opportunities Project is a community project, working with lone parents in various locations throughout South West Surrey, Farnham, Ash, Godalming and now Farnborough. The funding for the classes is provided by the Hazelhurst Trust and students make a donation each week to support future courses. The project supports and encourages lone parents to improve or gain new life and employment skills, with a view to returning to the work and providing themselves and their families with a better future. The workshops enable our students to experience new surroundings, learn new skills and realise they can achieve. The sessions are very relaxed and for many of the students, it is an opportunity to have time-out from the pressures of everyday life.
Opportunities Project participants took part in three workshops this year. The first was a family workshop where women and children spent the day with Joyce Hyslop, Apprentice Potter at Watts Gallery. They explored the Chapel and then made their own terracotta designs. Later in the year, a group came back to see the Making of Mary Seton Watts exhibition. In the spirit of the Home Arts & Industries Association and Arts & Crafts Movement, the women worked with designer Elizabeth Cake, to create their own lampshades using recycled material. They moved on to printing their own designs.
The success of the workshops has encouraged our students to return to the Watts Gallery for further workshops. The enjoyment and realisation of their own ability at the workshops, has encouraged them to bring their children. The atmosphere of the workshops and the surroundings of the Gallery, have helped the parents and children to appreciate the values of art.
‘I don’t normally have much patience when doing craft projects, but today I did.’ Sally, participant
‘I have learnt how to make stuff that I never thought I would have been able to do.’ Elana, Participant
SURREY YOUTH SUPPORT SERVICES Karen Damon-Aspen, Senior Youth Support Officer The Watts Gallery has been working in partnership with Surrey Youth Support Service. The Youth Support Service works with young people who are16-19 years old in order to help them achieve their goals in work, education or training. Since September 2013, eleven young people have attended the Tuesday sessions. They have learnt many new skills such as sculpture, working with clay and self portraits. Five young people have achieved their Bronze Art Award and all of them have progressed their D of E portfolios. Typically, the young people taking part have not been successful in mainstream education. Some have been in trouble with the police, others have experienced breakdown of family life and as a result are looked after by the local authority. Watts Gallery provides a nurturing environment of individual support and respect for students, inspiring creative group work classes. The achievements of this project are shown in several positive outcomes. One young man has moved into full-time employment, another onto a full-time college course and a number of young people gained the confidence to join other projects. One of the young females on the course said that this was the first time she felt that she had achieved anything. This same young person also volunteered with the Watts Gallery at one of their exhibitions, giving her real life work experience. Each of these students has gone on a journey of self discovery and gained the confidence to continue that journey thanks to the hard work of all the Watts Gallery staff and the artist involved in the project.
Above, Lilies in the Making, Jade, Surrey Youth Support Service Opposite, Definition of Rage, Ben, SYSS
ARTS AWARDS Anna Hennings, Big Issues Art Tutor I run Bronze Arts Awards workshops for Surrey Youth Support Service. Arts Awards are a nationally recognised qualification which aim to inspire and develop young people through creative learning projects. It is wonderful to see the transformation in the young people as they realise they have skills and abilities they were unaware of or they learn to re-engage with their education when it is presented in a new way. This allows them to choose what interests them and to build on this using different artistic processes. It is important not to underestimate the therapeutic benefits the workshops offer. Time is spent in a calm, friendly, safe
environment working with people who treat them as equals and where they are able to experience team working and positive communication. They recall enjoying painting in the studio of G.F. Watts when visitors are being shown around. They felt part of something bigger, that the public want to come and see. They had the chance to listen in and find out more whilst painting in the the very room in which Watts created many of his paintings.
Opposite top, Pikachu, Charlie, SYSS Below, Anna Hennings teaching Ella from Surrey Youth Support Service how to use a printing press. Opposite below, Naruto, Charlie, SYSS
‘I sculpted Pikachu because he is my favourite Pokemon. It is one of a series of four Pokemon characters. When I saw Physical Energy it inspired me to make my own sculpture. Pokemon look like they have physical energy.’ Charlie, Participant
STREET LEVEL ARTS Anna Hennings, Big Issues Art Tutor Street Level Art is an art rehabilitation group for people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, homelessness and mental health problems. The group has continued to enjoy monthly workshops at the Watts Gallery. They have taken part in a variety of creative activities; learning or improving skills in clay modelling, painting, drawing and printmaking and they have had the opportunity of visiting the various interesting and inspiring exhibitions. Following last year’s Big Issues exhibition at Watts Gallery, Anne Docherty, Housing Support Co-Ordinator at Guildford YMCA commenting on the Watts Gallery initiative, said: ‘It has been the catalyst for accessing counselling and has increased self-esteem through the exhibition and sale of a great deal of this work.’ Many of the group are delighted to have the opportunity to escape the pressures in their daily lives and enjoy the calm and peaceful space at Watts Gallery. There is the opportunity to explore new creative skills as an outlet to their creative expression. The experience of taking part in the Watts Gallery workshops has enabled group members to enjoy the relaxing environment, widen their knowledge, be inspired by the collection and the history of the Wattses in Compton and develop creative interests. The regulars who have been coming to Street Level for years continue to develop their skills and it is the highlight of the month to have the space and use of the Foyle Art for All Learning Studio facilities. The warm welcome and friendly experience delivered by the Watts Gallery workshops make them feel cared for accepted and important.
Grahame Reid died on the 27th October 2013. He attended the Street Level Big Issues workshops regularly from when they first began and his clay modelling and painting skills blossomed. He represented Street Level Art as part of The Big Issues project for Watts Gallery at an event at Guildford Cathedral where he met the Queen ‘He was so proud about it he wouldn’t shut up about it for weeks’ said his parents. They were very pleased to receive Graham’s self portrait made at the Gallery.
Above, Letting it Pass Away, Lee, Street Level Arts Centre, The Oblong and the Mistakes, Louise, Street Level Arts
‘I feel very lucky to have come to Watts Gallery for art classes. Thank you so much for the opportunity to do the course.’ Susan, participant.
THE CELLAR ART GROUP Adrienne Roberts, Big Issues Art Tutor So much has been achieved in the Big Issues 2013 project. Everyone has explored and enjoyed the symbols and meanings of the wonderful imagery in the Watts Chapel. This aspect of the Chapel really engaged the group and this inspiration became evident when they produced glazed and unglazed ceramic work with diverse individual interpretations of the Chapel. Their ceramic pieces have been worked in with painted background designs and details. One of the aims for this project has been to create a mixed media piece to help develop compositional skills and design. The group looked forward to exploring new media this year and has worked with acrylic paint. They have tried out different colour tones, textures and washes which proved to be very popular. It was a pleasure to see one of the participants, who has been absent for a few workshops, so relaxed and engaged with the properties of the paint. She clearly enjoyed colour mixing and experimentation and produced a beautiful painting in one afternoon. I have really valued the fulfilling experience of working with The Cellar during 2013. The group has gone from strength to strength being freed up to produce original ideas. Being involved with this liberation has been an added pleasure; seeing a sketchbook filled with beautiful drawings or seeing someone’s delight when receiving a well glazed piece of ceramic work for the first time. It has been great to see creativity and confidence bloom with each project. The Cellar continues to build on its success with future projects, all made possible by The Big Issues project.
Opposite above, Inspiration for Life, Joanna, Cellar Art Group Opposite bottom left, Puirty, Sue, Cellar Art Group Opposite bottom right, Obedience, Sue, Cellar Art Group Above, Watts Chapel Lady, Keith, Cellar Art Group Below, Female Figure with a Ball, Keith, Cellar Art Group
ARTVENTURE Kim Moody, Art Worker The Artventure Trust is a creative day centre in Guildford for adults with learning difficulties. Founded in 1984, the charity was set up to allow vulnerable people to explore the visual arts, in a safe and secure environment. In the Summer of 2013, fifteen clients visited the Watts Gallery to take part in a project with the Watts Gallery Artist in Residence, Clare Kuznik. For most, this was a first ever visit to the Gallery and a chance to get inspiration for the many projects they do back in their studio in Guildford. The group visited the Gallery and viewed work by G.F. Watts that inspired Clare Kuznik’s own drawings made with thread. They were encouraged to make their own interpretation and also contributed to a collaborative artwork which was exhibited in Clare’s residency exhibition. Artventure plan to come back next year. Whilst they have fantastic facilities at Artventure, the group do not have many opportunities to visit galleries and hear about the art on display and contemplate it for themselves. Working with the team at the Watts Gallery has had a positive and lasting effect on our participants at Artventure. The excitement from our group as we boarded the mini-bus to the Gallery where we were greeted by the delightful staff, was fabulous. Our clients do not have many opportunities to engage in the community outside our studio. Not only did our participants gain a real sense of pride to be involved in such an esteemed project, it also gave them the chance to learn new artistic techniques with Clare through stitching, embroidery and collage.
Above, Member of Artventure experimenting with drawing in thread. Opposite, Within the Walls, Flowers will Bloom, Emma, HMP Send
KPMG FOUNDATION Jo Clunie, Director of the KPMG Foundation The KPMG Foundation is proud to have supported The Big Issues project since 2009. The project provides a valuable period of time for disadvantaged young people to engage in meaningful activity, express their emotions, reflect on their past life and more importantly to plan for their future. Art is a powerful medium through which this process can be explored. A glance through The Big Issues Project reports since 2009, reinforced how it is the words of the participants that so powerfully sum up the value of the programme:
The permanent sculpture created by the women prisoners at HMP Send is a permanent reminder of the value of this programme. The sculpture reinforces that it is possible to break the cycle and the chains that bind us, to be able to look skyward and plan for a better future. Congratulations to Watts Gallery and another successful year for The Big Issues Project.
‘Being introduced to Watts Gallery and the girls doing the project, quite literally saved my life.’ Big Issues participant