[LAUIL601] Final Outcomes: "Girl Who Cannot See" Collaboration with Veronika Škutová

"Girl Who Cannot See" is a dark ambient, experimental and atmospheric retelling of my poem of the same name, released in the winter of 2020, recounting my experiences with cyberbullying in an online community. To be able to record my voice and read my poem, present my monoprint on a new platform and to new audiences and collaborate with a professional composer is so much more than I could have ever hoped to do with my work, and I feel so lucky to expand my portfolio in this way. I am so honoured to have worked with Veronika.

 Music (c) Veronika Škutová.

Words and Art (c) Kimberley Burrows

2021

electronic ambient art dark ambient experimental electronic graphic score

Instagram Feedback:

Reflection:

Veronika reached out to me in Instagram messages through my art page in early December, after seeing my "Girl Who Cannot See"poem, monoprint series, and struggle with cyberbullying -a sking if I'd like to collaborate on an audio poem with her combining my words and artwork with her composing. She is a recent graduate (2020) at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (Vysoká škola múzických umení v Bratislave) in Bratislava, Slovakia, with a specialism in Composing and also works as a piano teacher. 

Admittedly I've never done anything like this before and a huge part of me wanted to say no as the easiest path of resistance. I have no recording equipment like she does, aside from my phone with the basic Voice app, and I didn't want to look unprofessional in front of someone who may have better things than me. I decided to go for it, and put my heart and soul into my reading of my poem - it was cathartic to put this experience into a performance and into a container.

I'm very happy with the outcome to have surrendered to creativity in one of my darkest moments, and to have dared to collaborate. I consider it to be one of the final outcomes of the 601 module and has really pushed my practice into a new, accessible places reaching new audiences.

[LAUIL601] Secondary Research: Inkwell Arts

https://www.inkwellarts.org.uk

• Instagram: Inkwell_arts

• Instagram: inkwell_artscafe (promoting the healthy food served in their onsite vegetarian cafe)

• Twitter: @InkwellArts

• Facebook: https:/facebook.com/Inkwellarts/

• Email: inkwell@leedsmind.org.uk

• I found out about Inkwell Arts through Linking Leeds, where the person offering help for my mental health connecting me with charities and organisations mentions it. It sounds perfect for the kind of research I'm doing and the fact it is local makes it even better!

• Unfortunately it is closed due to the pandemic but I look forward to when I can visit one day in the future.

• Inkwell Arts is a mental health charity-run, multi-disciplinary arts centre with broad activity programme, plus cafe.

• "A Safe Creative Art Space in Leeds. Enriching lives through creativity and promoting positive mental health."

• As part of Leeds Mind and a registered charity

• The man page has a video. "Did you know creativity can increase happiness, improve mental health, boost your immune system, improve productivity, relieve stress, and encourage personal expression? Inkwell Arts is a creative well-being space. Art workshops. Well-being and mindfulness. Food and nutrition. Creative team building. Bespoke workshops. Expanding our outreach offer across Leeds and virtually in 2021. Promoting positive mental health through creativity. Contact inkwell@leedsmind.org.uk"

• About Us - Leeds Mind. Directs to the Leeds Mind website with their mission statement. "Welcome to Leeds Mind. The aim of our work is to help people build on their strengths, overcome obstacles, and become more in control of their lives.

We have faith and optimism in our clients and so the services we deliver are built around their needs. We support the people of Leeds to discover their own resources to ‘recover’ from periods of poor mental health, and to live life independently with their mental health condition.

Leeds Mind promotes positive mental health and wellbeing, and provides help and support to those who need it. We offer many services, including: counselling, group therapy, social support, peer support, social prescribing, employment support, suicide bereavement support, and mental health training.

• 1 in 4 people experience mental health"

• Also their fundraising, get involved, blog etc. Back to Inkwell Arts.

• Reflections from service users: 

"Being here has helped my confidence levels, the fact that we can come when we want takes away the pressure of having to constantly attend when sometimes I might not feel up to it. The bright friendly environment is something I love about this place; anyone is welcome and my family members who have visited have been greeted with the same open arms as I was. It’s thanks to Inkwell that I will be starting Art School in September, something which I would not have had the confidence to do before.”

“Craft Café has a friendly atmosphere, where all skill levels come together to try new things. It’s chance to learn new skills and have the freedom to express yourself. I’ve done a bit of volunteering here too which I’ve really enjoyed.”

“It is such a relaxed, ambient environment in this class with a great tutor and a chance to display our work. The fact that everyone has varying skill levels means that we all make sure we help each other out. This class is such a positive place for people who are struggling with their mental health, it helps to build confidence and setting yourself little goals is sometimes better for a person thanself-analysis.”

“These classes are great for me as I’m retired and on my own and it really gives me something to look forward to. Every week I leave feeling happy and excited to return. When I made the decision to start a sewing class, I looked around at a few in the area and this one really stuck out to me because others wanted an up-front payment for a full semester and seemed quite strict on attendance. I like the sewing classes here as I can choose when to come and pay per lesson; I’m not expected to pay the full price due to me being retired. I think that charging an up-front fee creates a sense of exclusivity which can put off those on a lower income or the retired. This is a lovely environment to be in.”

• Classes and workshops include virtual life drawing, yoga, courses around what we eat and mental health, beginner art courses, growing vegetables, herbs and flowers.

• Virtual tour to move around and familiarise yourself with the space (by Google Maps)

• Useful Links: Various links to mental health and well-being charities across Leeds and the UK including Leeds Mind, Elefriends, Sane, Leeds York Partnership Foundation Trust (LYPFT), Time to Change, etc. The one that stands out to me the most is Arts and Minds - "The Arts & Minds Network aims to bring together people in Leeds who believe the arts can promote mental well being. The network is open to anyone who in Leeds wants to see the growth of arts and health – including service users, carers, mental health workers, artists, arts organisations and mental health organisations." Relevant to my work.

• Blog and Online Resources: This seems to be a "how to" catch all section of making your own items at home, as the centre is closed due to the pandemic. There are many different food, craft and jewellery projects. There's also a section for meditation which encompasses things like general well-being: New Years resolutions, feeling wheels, self care advent calendars etc.

• There's a section for volunteering and a contact form. 

• I would love to reach out to them and ask some questions as a potential case study for my dissertation!