UnLocking was a National Lottery funded project by Breathe Creative working in partnership with Ty Canna Mental Health Outreach Service in Cardiff.
Participants met weekly in online sessions facilitated by Katja Stiller over a period of six months from July 2021 to January 2022. Using different art forms we explored and expressed our emotions during these strange times of COVID-19; we looked at how it feels to come out of Lockdown, out of our comfort zone, and how we could unlock ourselves and our creative potential.
One group worked with animator Jane Hubbard and composer Jacob Meadowcroft to create the animation ‘Beyond the Lines’ (above). Much of the artwork behind the animation is captured in a booklet and also in the exhibition ‘UnLocked’ which was launched online on January 7th 2022. The young people’s group worked with composer Tic Ashfield to record their creative writing and produce a soundscape and spoken word piece called ‘Through the Sands of Time’.
Artwork and words created by: Rhiannon, Sarah, Jacob, Bonnford, Jennifer, Debbie, Loraine, Jemima, Nick, Magdalena, Rain, Helen, Amy, Lianne, Aaron, Judith, Jet, Leandro, Shardine, Val.
Supported by: Imogen Fallon, Millie Tucker, Callum Langley, Vishal Gaikwad, Ty Canna Outreach Service.
We celebrated the work created with an on-line launch attended by over 40 people.
Gallery
UnLocking Book
‘Through the Sands of Time’
Audio Version
Film Version
Our group also made this into a video with their own footage.
Participants’ feedback:
“Working on this project has inspired me and given me the confidence to become more creative.”
“I was surprised by how atmospheric the final recording was.”
“This is a place where I can express myself freely, it has allowed me to enter the beautiful chaos of creativity without judgements.”
“Being guided in honing my expressive skills with professionals in the creative field has been invaluable and a journey I won’t forget.”
“This project has given me consistent human connection.”
“I’ve found the courage to unlock the door to my imagination and to allow my inner self the freedom to breathe and create.”
“I’ve been doing this a long time. From here to there I feel totally different. I’ve learnt that people are interested in what I’ve got to say and create.”
“I’ve learnt that being expressive is personal to me and there’s no limits if I stop judging myself!”
“I’ve learnt a steam of consciousness way of expressing my inner feeling.”
“I learnt that creativity is very therapeutic. ”
“It’s empowered me to move beyond my comfort zone, to connect with others and embrace new experiences.”
“It has taught me to strike out and unleash my inner creativity, to express my inner love and rage.”
“It’s impacted me positively, by being able to listen less to my inner critic, to allow confidence to bloom over shyness.”
“The project enabled me to develop my creative side and express myself in ways I’d never have thought about.”
“It has given me a safe space to express and share emotions and creativity.”