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Heavy November rainfall didn’t dampen spirits as participants ready to and explore and share, entered the Guild Heritage House.
We were joining together for a creative workshop with artist James Aldridge; a one-off Body/Building, Sensing the Past workshop. Entering through the doors of the Guild Heritage House was a significant moment for many of the group who were seeing inside for the first time the building they had been researching for 8 months.
Some of the group after a largely academic study found this stimulating and an exciting stage of the process, some felt more constrained imaging lives against the empty rooms and stark walls.
We took in the large hall around us and debated what had been adapted and changed. Then we fully explored the building, picturing the apprenticeship activities, the sale of goods and the stories of solidarity taking place in the now empty rooms in front of us.
Pieces produced in the Sensing the Past workshop
Some of the group after a largely academic study found this stimulating and an exciting stage of the process, some felt more constrained imaging lives against the empty rooms and stark walls.
We then had an opportunity to reflect on our feelings and use a variety of materials to create expressions; through visual pieces, poetry, photography and collage.
James allowed the group space to go on individual journeys and create unique work. The pieces produced spoke of a building that provided so much for so long and now stands cold and bare. It spoke of the quiet voices that found a home for the first time.
An extract from a poem written by Dave Pearse who attended the workshop:
‘They call it the Guild Heritage House
A building of fine Victorian Stature
Ancient in appearance, yet once ahead of its time
Built for the convenience of ‘crippled unfortunates’…’
Thanks to James Aldridge for leading such a sensitive exploration of space. We loved creating inside the building and in a way; being our own Guild craft group existing now.
Thank you to all who attended and shared and to Nick Roads and Brave and Poor Ltd for letting us explore the Guild Heritage House.
Researchers present their pieces.