Heard And Not Seen

In March 2011 Sandra and Rose began working with a group of mothers from the afternoon tea group at Waswood Heath Children’s Centre.  This was a revisitation to WHCC for Heard And Not Seen and over a period of 8 weeks there was a series of discussions and workshops using art based activities to discuss the themes of community and home.  We found within these activities of building a picture of “home” or “communitiy” that although these are places of comfort and sanctuary that they can also be places that fear and dispondency can grow. Within the discussions it was agreed that there needs to be a arena within the home and wider community which is open and honest for frank conversations to take place. Conversations that could in turn influence the creation of an environment which enables members of wider multi-faith communities to approach each other but also respect each others differences and similarities.

By experimenting with different media within the workshops, the women decided to use labels to create various artworks using new technologies. This became a framework of thoughts, poetry and imagery discussing life, religion and motherhood within the final piece.

The workshops concluded with a facilitated discussion within the Heard And Not Seen exhibition. Key members of the group met with other community groups from the local area to share stories about the past and present, initiating and enabling the women to become leaders in and for their local area.

 

 

 

Over a period of 6 weeks Mitra worked with a group of mothers at Washwood Heath Children’s Centre. Through a series of discussions and workshops we explored personal histories and how we aim to nurture our children to grow up to be respectful and tolerant to other cultures and religions. As well as exploring our differences, we also found pertinent similarities in our aspirations as Mothers, Wives, Sisters, Friends and Citizens.

The participants where asked to bring in their family photo albums and objects of significance that formed the starting point for personal histories and stories.

The workshops presented an opportunity for the mothers to engage with one another in a unique setting and encouraged new friendships that will develop beyond the HANS project and inspired confidence to be more active within the wider multi-faith communities that they live in.

The sessions culminated in a final discussion that revealed the most important aspect of Muslim representation is for Muslims to make more efforts to engage with non-Muslims. The women felt that the most important place to start was from the home.

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