We have created a workshop prototype: Creatively working with elders’ voices & digitally capturing memories to evoke the Washhouse World* of our working class forebears.
The creatives:
- Ros Martin: Lead Artist and project leader
olawalearts.org.uk - Mike Stuart: Artist, illustrator, shadow puppet video producer and web designer
disphoria.com disphoria.co.uk - Gill Simmons: theatrical skills and workshop facilitator
bravebolddrama.co.uk - pedda Borowski (in Berlin): Artist, sand animation video producer, book layout and illustrator
peddaborowski.com - Cleo Lake: dance facilitator for the last workshop session
cleolakecreativity.wordpress.com - The Washhouse Wimmin: Elders aged 60 to 75 years:
- Belinda French
- Silu Pascoe
- Pam Laudat
- Pauline Glanville
- Gill Greenwood
- Doreen Baidoo
- Dr Mary Phipps
We worked together in a series of three two-hour workshops at 1904 Arts at the Red Lodge in central Bristol, during the Spring of 2023.
We had conversations. We wrote poetry. We sang, hand-clapped, created doodle-cloth drawings and recorded our voices into talking lids. Most importantly, we laughed and made friends, forming a cohesive group we named the Washhouse Wimmin. Many of these memories take us back to the world of our childhood. The artists on the project have illustrated the Washhouse Wimmin’s words in sand animation, shadow puppetry and created a limited edition illustrated book entitled Anyone Remember The Washhouse? edited by Ros Martin and illustrated by pedda Borowski and Mike Stuart.
Diverse and inclusive we are, and our aim is to continue to share and creatively capture memories of the Washhouse World of our working-class forebears to elevate, honour and emulate our forebears’ resilience, resourcefulness and creativity; despite lives of hardship and struggle.
*Note: We have used the term Washhouse World to encompass the labour undertaken in keeping clean, before baths and washing machines were commonly in the home.
