ST/ART Group – Loving Photography

Today we’re taking the opportunity to have another look at the amazing photography work that has been created by the ST/ART group, as part of our ‘Reconnect’ project. We previously profiled the group in an earlier post and are delighted to re-visit their work and share some more of their photographs with you.

The ST/ART group have been focusing on creating their own body of photographic work, inspired by the work and photographic essays of Dundee-based photographer and tutor Joseph McKenzie and our temporary exhibition ‘A Love Letter to Dundee: Joseph Mckenzie Photographs 1964 – 1987’.

Supported by the Creative Learning Team, Chris Kelly from THAT and freelance artist David Scott, the group meet weekly through Zoom for their ‘Reconnect’ sessions. They have now completed their art works and have been able to capture their images using cameras or mobile phones, either from home or when out for daily exercise, in keeping with current COVID-19 restrictions. Here is a small selection of images by each artist that we are delighted to be able to share in the blog.

• 

  Alice Jones

• 

  Alison Reeves

• 

  Athene Bergamino

• 

  Eilish Nairn

• 

  Helen Gowland

• 

  Issy Robertson

• 

  Mark Pennycook

• 

  Michelle Cassidy

• 

  Robert Carrie

• 

  Steven Ogg

Participant Feedback

I enjoyed absolutely everything, taking pictures, getting outside, learning new skills, was buzzing with ideas, images, took thousands of pics lol. Who knew I could do this, I’ve shocked myself, always loved photography but never knew I could be this good.

Being part of the programme has given me a push to leave the house and interact with the world and begin to see the beauty of life again.  The sense of accomplishment each week, completing a series of photos had a huge benefit to my wellbeing and seeing & hearing others enjoyment in my photos definitely was a boost to my self-esteem.

This was an exceptionally well organised and run programme. A good mixture of learning and showcasing our own work. Given the pandemic restrictions, I cannot think of how this could have been done differently.

Creative Learning Team Feedback

At this point in time, it’s so important for cultural venues and teams to reach out and provide high-quality creative engagement with groups. Working with the ST/ART group through the ‘Reconnect’ project has been an absolute joy. 

Week by week, the creative tasks led by David Scott helped encourage everyone to be more creative, enjoy being outdoors, and share their new-found skills and work with each other. We watched each of the group blossom in confidence, develop new photographic skills and create strong, thought-provoking body of images inspired by both the museums exhibition ‘A Love Letter to Dundee’ and in response to the world around them. 

We will shortly be launching our online, digital gallery where you can see all 60 photographs that have been created by the group, currently hosted here https://davidpscott.com/loving-photography/.

Stay tuned on our social media channels to get the link for the gallery once it goes live and for further news about ‘Reconnect’!

The project has been made possible thanks to Art Fund support and additional funding from Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust.

The McManus ‘Reconnects’!

We are delighted to be able to share with you our newest learning & engagement project, Reconnect! This is being delivered by the team whilst home-working and we are very swiftly grasping the skills to navigate zoom, teams and messenger!

Delivery of ‘Reconnect’ will enable The Creative Learning Team to continue to provide rich valuable cultural experiences remotely, for community groups with long-term health conditions and local family groups, enhancing positive cultural participation and ensuring that isolated and shielding participants can still benefit from the rich experiences the museum has to offer whilst the doors are temporarily closed.

We are thrilled to be working across the museum with our colleagues, cultural partners and freelance artists to support those most in need. Participant groups involved are from Alzheimer Scotland, Home-Start Dundee and Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust.

All project activities have been co-produced and are designed to spark imagination and support shared, remote learning experiences, utilising the museum’s new temporary exhibitions ‘Time and Tide: The Transformation of the Tay’ and ‘A Love Letter to Dundee: Joseph McKenzie Photographs 1964-1987’ as creative catalysts throughout the project. Both exhibitions narrate Dundee’s stories through film, photography, audio, objects and artworks from across the city’s collections and celebrate the influence the River Tay has had and still has on our city.

Activities include digital reminiscence sessions and tutor led zoom sessions to develop skills in photography. A wide range of family friendly digital activities, free art kits, and artist-led art activities, as well as specially choreographed museum-themed online dance sessions. Participants will also have a wide range of opportunities to share their own stories and co-produce final project artworks and publications.

Members of the ST/ART group during a ‘Reconnect’ photography session.

Keep up to date with our social media channels and our team blog to learn more about the project and the amazing work being created and facilitated throughout Reconnect!

The project has been made possible thanks to Art Fund support and additional funding from Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust.

We Got our Pride on at The McManus!

 

Dundee was a sea of rainbows on Saturday 21^st September as an amazing 14,000 people of all ages turned out for the city’s second Pride event.

This is the first Dundee Pride that The McManus had taken part in and there was a real buzz of excitement from staff, volunteers, visitors, members of our choir in residence ‘Loadsaweeminsingin’ and our Youth Action Group.

After weeks of planning and preparations, the day finally arrived and there was already a joyous atmosphere in the City Centre from 10am.

We kick-started the celebrations out on the museum’s terrace inviting people of all ages to make some colourful creations to accessorize themselves ahead of the parade with our freelance artist team. Meanwhile in our café we hosted our first ever ‘Drag Brunch’. Visitors were treated to a hilariously entraining drag performance from the fabulous Buttercup Buffay and Natalie Caramelli!

Our visitors and café regulars enjoyed a slice of rainbow cake before the entire audience rose to their feet to all join Buttercup and Natalie dance to ‘The Macarena’!!

As the parade began to make its way around to the McManus, some of our staff members, visitors and members of our in-house choir ‘Loadsaweeminsingin’ gathered outside the front of the museum to cheer on the parade and show their support. Our Youth Action Group showcased the Pride Banners they had created alongside our partnering young people for the event, ‘LGBT Youth Scotland’. There was a real feeling of joyfulness and positivity as the carnival of colour passed The McManus, many in colourful costumes and holding up homemade placards!

Once the Parade passed The McManus our artist team and The Youth Action group proudly joined the procession as it made its way down to Slessor Gardens. All art supplies were transported in our very own ‘Pridemobile’ (a shopping trolley fully decked out in rainbow attire of course!) We spent the remainder of the afternoon in the ‘Youth Zone’ doing what we do best… Getting Creative!! Throughout the course of the afternoon a whopping 800 people visited the youth zone where young visitors relaxed in the ‘Chill-out’ area, enjoyed using a pop-up make-up and nail bar, and got hands on and imaginative with arts and crafts actives.

 

Following on from our first Dundee Pride event, The McManus is really excited to announce that we are beginning a new venture working in partnership on a Heritage Lottery fund with the incredible ‘Shaper Caper’. ‘Here. Me. Out. is a FREE yearlong project for young people exploring LGBT+ stories through film, dance, audio, make-up, music and oral history.  The project is led by Shaper/Caper in partnership with The McManus and LGBT Youth Scotland.

For more information about how to get involved contact  yolanda@shapercaper.com

 

 

Feedback from visitors to ‘Get Your Pride On at The McManus’

‘I loved the positive energy of pride and it was amazing to see The McManus supporting it!! Can’t wait for next year!’

‘This year’s pride was amazing! The support for the LGBT community is clearly growing and the future is brightly coloured!’

‘What a brilliant day! Had an amazing time at the drag brunch! So well organised and great fun! Well done everyone!’

Feedback from McManus Youth Action Group

‘Pride was very enjoyable and it made me feel part of a community!’

I loved that I could use art with YAG to express my support for people!’

 

 

 

 

McMANUS LOVES DUNDEE PRIDE!!

Although the nights are getting darker, and winter is just around the corner… The Creative Learning Studio is currently a sea of rainbows, colour and excitement as we do our last minute prep ahead of the city’s second Pride event!

Following an incredible launch of Dundee Pride in 2018 with 10 thousand people attending, The event takes over Slessor Gardens on Saturday 21^st September and features a Pride Market, Youth Zone and Family Area as well as performances from musicians, dancers and celebrities.

Dundee Pride’s mission is to take on a positive stance against discrimination and violence towards the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community and to progress LGBT and equality, awareness and inclusion within Dundee and the region.

Here at The McManus we are extremely excited to be part of Dundee Pride 2019 and in the lead up to this event the museum’s Youth Action Group have had some great discussions about why it is important that their city and The McManus, widely recognised as ‘The People’s Museum’ supports Dundee Pride.

Over the past few weeks, our Youth Action Group have been experimenting with materials to design creative activities and accessories to be delivered in the ‘Pride Youth Zone Area’ and will be inviting other young people to come along, get creative and produce their own rainbow accessories on the day.

The Learning Studio became a hive of activity this week as they joined forces with some of LGBT Youth Scotland’s youth group members to create their Pride Banners ready for the parade!

 

Make sure you pop along tomorrow to join us for a range of Free Pride-themed activities for all to enjoy.  We have ‘Get Your Pride On’ at our Pride Gazebo on the museum’s front terrace between 10.30 – 1pm where create any last minute colourful accessories for the parade. You can enjoy a cuppa and some special rainbow cake in the museum’s café and pop along and visit The Creative Learning Team for more Pride Themed Crafts in the Pride Youth Zone at Slessor Gardens between 1 and 4.30pm!

 

 

 

For more details about Dundee Pride events, activities and timings visit: http://www.dundeepride.com

 

 

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