FACE MASKS PROJECT
At the start of the pandemic it was strange to see people beginning to wear masks that concealed their faces and created a barrier to the unspoken communication we take part in, through our expressions, as we negotiate the streets. I was interested to capture the people embracing this new behaviour as I encountered them on my daily exercise around Hanley.
By Samantha Jones
During May this year I was offered one of the Festival Echoes artist commissions by Festival Stoke. For the month of June I was asked to create experimental work in response to the covid-19 situation. My aim as an artist who doesn't originally come from Stoke was to find how the current covid-19 situation had affected the city and its people, and I decided to do this through film, photography and digital illustrations.
With one of the key words being 'experimental' this was a challenge for me as I have not worked within this medium (digital) before. I spent June exploring and getting a feel of the city as we navigated the covid-19 situation, and as I met people (socially distanced of course) from around the area and got to know their stories and the positive impact they have had on their communities. The films give an insight into the artist at work, including the interviews I conducted, the films and photographs I took around the city and a peek at my digital illustration process.
When I think about the times that there has been an outbreak of a virus, I feel we develop certain fears. For example when there was an outbreak of mad cows disease some people developed a fear of eating beef. During covid-19 when we are being told to socially distance to keep the ones we love safe and well , I have worried that some may have developed a fear of physical closeness to friends and loved ones. It is my hope that the resulting digital works will bring a part of that connection back as viewers connect with the people within the films and digital images.
I hope that you will enjoy seeing the process in the films and the resulting photographic and digital illustration galleries below.
With one of the key words being 'experimental' this was a challenge for me as I have not worked within this medium (digital) before. I spent June exploring and getting a feel of the city as we navigated the covid-19 situation, and as I met people (socially distanced of course) from around the area and got to know their stories and the positive impact they have had on their communities. The films give an insight into the artist at work, including the interviews I conducted, the films and photographs I took around the city and a peek at my digital illustration process.
When I think about the times that there has been an outbreak of a virus, I feel we develop certain fears. For example when there was an outbreak of mad cows disease some people developed a fear of eating beef. During covid-19 when we are being told to socially distance to keep the ones we love safe and well , I have worried that some may have developed a fear of physical closeness to friends and loved ones. It is my hope that the resulting digital works will bring a part of that connection back as viewers connect with the people within the films and digital images.
I hope that you will enjoy seeing the process in the films and the resulting photographic and digital illustration galleries below.
DIGITAL IMAGES
Olivia Hepworth is a 9 year old girl and attends Harpfield Primary Academy. During lockdown Olivia and her mother Nicky Hepworth came up with the idea of raising money for Olivia’s school food bank, which had been developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Olivia has a love of track running, and to raise funds she ran half a marathon over a number of days, and in total raised £792 for Harpfield Primary Academy’s food bank.
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Throughout lockdown and even before, Birgit and the volunteers she works with go above and beyond to help anyone in need. Throughout the pandemic Birgit and her husband have been running a food bank from their home and delivering food parcels 7 days a week.
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During lockdown Chloe Rickett, Alex Norcop and Jon Rickett arranged a socially distanced community bingo session for their neighbours within their community. Brightening up people’s day during a time when we are being reminded to stay apart, they were able to bring people safely together.
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LOCKDOWN STORY VIDEOS
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HARTSHILL COMMUNITY CLAY PROJECT
Developed by the Creative Skills Project
While on my daily walk I stumbled across a small sculpture hanging on a lamppost, and as I carried on making my way down the street more began appearing. Each one different from the former. I discovered that the Collective Skills Project had developed this ‘Community Clay’ pop-up exhibition. However, it was the residents of Hartshill who had created these beautiful objects. Each person or family worked separately in their homes, yet collectively, to create something amazing for people to discover while walking in Hartshill.
While on my daily walk I stumbled across a small sculpture hanging on a lamppost, and as I carried on making my way down the street more began appearing. Each one different from the former. I discovered that the Collective Skills Project had developed this ‘Community Clay’ pop-up exhibition. However, it was the residents of Hartshill who had created these beautiful objects. Each person or family worked separately in their homes, yet collectively, to create something amazing for people to discover while walking in Hartshill.