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Fired Up Project

This was a three month project exploring new and different approaches to working with clay for visually impaired people. The idea for the project arose out of a visit to the 'Tomodachi' exhibition at the Richard Attenborough Centre in Leicester.  This was an exhibition of mainly ceramic work by visually impaired students from Japan and Britain.  Art Through Touch visitors to the show were excited by the use of different clays and wide variety of surface qualities.  As most participants in the project had an understanding and experience of working with clay, the aim of the project was to explore new and different ways of working.  Through the activities participants developed and learnt new skills and approaches which they can now apply to the future development of their work. The Project was comprised of a series of linked activities.  Four one day practical workshops, an Art Talk, a visit to the Tate stores and an Exhibition to show the work produced. Fired Up Workshops The main objective of the workshops was to present new ways of working and approaches to creativity which would have a legacy in the inception of new work. The workshops explored working in relief, making tiles and medallions; casting and mould making; exploring qualities of clay and mixing your own clay bodies adding unusual materials.  Workshops were led by the artists Lynn Cox, Amirthi Perera and Los Simpson who all had a wide range of experience and were able to plan activities to meet the specific needs of the group. Fired Up Talk The ceramic artist Liz Emtage was selected to give a talk and presentation of her innovative work.  Emphasis was placed on the accessibility of her presentation to the largely visually impaired audience.  Full and detailed descriptions were given of slides and a wide selection of work was available for handling.  The talk provided an opportunity for discussion on the technical approaches to conceiving and making work and professional practice. Visit to Tate Stores A request was made to the Tate for an opportunity to handle works made in clay and works originating in clay and then cast in other materials, thus linking in with the theme of the workshop sessions. Work fitting this criteria was not available at any of the Tate's London sites so special arrangements were made for work to be viewed at the Tate Stores.  This is viewed as a breakthrough in terms access both in regard to getting our specific requirements met and in terms of gaining access to the stores. The work handled was by the 20th Century artist Jacques Lipchitz. Fired Up Exhibition The exhibition lasted for a month and took place at the Community Gallery in the Wandsworth Museum, London.  The show included work by all artists involved in the project, sighted and non sighted. This included work made in clay, carved soapstone, cast bronze and cement fondu.  An important aspect of the exhibition's presentation was the opportunity to experience the exhibits through the sense of touch, its accessibility in terms of the provision of exhibition text and labels in large print, braille and on audio tape.  It is estimated that 1500 people would have visited the exhibition. Reports from museum staff indicate that the exhibition was popular and well received by visitors. Conclusion The Fired Up project was a fully integrated series of events comprised of the staple elements of Art Through Touch practice. That of providing access for visually impaired people to art through practical art workshops, art talks, gallery visits and exhibitions of participants work.  Both the art talk and the visit to the Tate Stores have contributed to the inception of new work.  Participants have indicated their intentions to embark on new project as a result of their experiences. Information gained from the evaluation process would suggest that this approach works and is the way forward for the Organisation.

The FIRED UP Project was funded by: Action for Blind People, The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, The Miles Trust for the Putney and Roehampton community and Wandsworth Borough Council, Battersea Rotary Club and Potterycrafts Ltd.