Last week residents at an NHG supported scheme joined together with local artists at a ‘block party’ in Islington.
The event, held at 20-26 and 73 Mildmays, was part of the Going Places art festival that brings artists and older people together in community, day centre and residential care settings.
The event, held at 20-26 and 73 Mildmays, was part of the Going Places art festival that brings artists and older people together in community, day centre and residential care settings.
The party at Mildmays celebrated a vibrant long-term programme of arts projects funded locally by Islington Giving and part of the Arts Council’s national Celebrating Age programme, with arts charities All Change and Cubitt (which has also received funding from the NHG Wellbeing Foundation), and showcased work from artists and residents alike.
The evening kicked off with a painting and drawing session with Sadie Edginton, alongside tours of the studio space conducted by Cubitt Artist, Joshua Sofaer whose nose-inspired sculptures are truly a sight to behold:
Joshua said: “Having your nose cast is a bit of an invasive procedure, particularly if you’re at all claustrophobic. I’ve been doing casts of residents’ fingers instead which are then painted and displayed.”
Joshua said: “Having your nose cast is a bit of an invasive procedure, particularly if you’re at all claustrophobic. I’ve been doing casts of residents’ fingers instead which are then painted and displayed.”
Residents and visitors were then invited to participate in a free form poetry session led by All Change artist Francesca Beard, while posing for movement-themed portraits by photographer, Leticia Valverdes.
Leticia said: “Movement in my photos has always been very important to me. I’ve been working with residents at Mildmays to show this.”
The evening was rounded off nicely by drinks and dancing, with tunes provided by DJ Tony Nwachukwu.
Marian Howell, activities officer at NHG, said: It is a real pleasure to work with organisations such as Cubitt and All Change. They bring in such quality artists to inspire our residents. They bring life to the home, they energise us into action and all this joy can be captured in Leticia’s photos.”
Leticia said: “Movement in my photos has always been very important to me. I’ve been working with residents at Mildmays to show this.”
The evening was rounded off nicely by drinks and dancing, with tunes provided by DJ Tony Nwachukwu.
Marian Howell, activities officer at NHG, said: It is a real pleasure to work with organisations such as Cubitt and All Change. They bring in such quality artists to inspire our residents. They bring life to the home, they energise us into action and all this joy can be captured in Leticia’s photos.”
The Going Places festival runs until 31 October. For more information, see: https://cubittartists.org.uk/2019/09/13/going-places-festival-2019/