Hi everyone! I created a website for my Gold Arts Award and wanted your thoughts!
www.purplemonkeyflower.com
Please leave comments on WordPress or contact me: sony_d2k@hotmail.com. Find out more about me right here on WordPress with my own blog.
Best Wishes and Happy New Year OYAPers!
Sony Dhokia
www.wordpress.com/sonyd
Posted in Arts Award, Sony Dhokia
Having seen a blog on the DCMS website from a lady who has recently finished her internship, I can’t help feeling that my self confidence has been robbed.
Robbed? Who by?
It is not as simple as that. There were no jobs at all when I graduated in summer 2009. This makes me stronger, in some ways, than other people.
This all gets confusing when jobs that I would have applied for and similar are being picked up by people young than I am. I have no way of measuring my level as so far I have only worked professionally in a freelance capacity. Is it simply that there is no more room for young graduates in the arts? Or is it that they are able to offer something that in 2009, I couldn’t.
There are many skills that I can offer and I have gathered what I consider to be an impressive C.V. however I have no way of knowing how I measure up, in the workplace, with other people my age.
Noticing that there are now schemes, bursaries and a maternal look out for struggling graduates leaves me with mixed feelings. There was nothing like that when I was sleeping on couches and pulling pints.
All I can say, is that while, I am pleased for the fresher graduates, they are going to have a huge sock if our industry suffers any thing similar in the future.
Now my thoughts go back to the Hidden Project as I tackle the last leg of the challenge.
Posted in Uncategorized
Hello all,
Today, as part of the Hidden Project, we had a celebration day at Witney. This might sound strange but I can explain simply.
As you know, the project is in three strands – Wantage, Witney and Woodstock. The Wantage strand has blossomed into a perfectly formed art trail around the town and we will be celebrating the group’s achievements with a private view. Most people have heard of a private view. They come in different forms and are most known for the free wine and nibbles.
At Witney we had a week of Hidden Camp which happened over half term. Over the week the group built a structure that will be used as a kitchen area at Cogges Manor Farm. Each day on ‘Camp’ people spent time, honing their woodworking skills, shelter making and cooking on camp fire techniques. So, we celebrated in style today.
Janine Charles helped us along by preparing a camp fire feast. Friends and family came to get stuck in with putting the finishing touches on the kitchen and we got to celebrate the week’s work, in one day. Hence: celebration day.
I am now looking forwards to the Woodstock project and looking forward to our private view at Wantage.
In other news. I wanted to share this with you: http://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/view.cfm?id=6018&issue=245.
I have just had a blog published on the Arts Profesional website called: “Losing the graduate edge.”
The FULL version (only one paragraph more) is on my blog: beccart.wordpress.com.
This is my thinking space so all comments and questions welcome.
B
Posted in Uncategorized
From Young Creative Leader of cohort 2009 to young professional. My blog started back in 2009 to follow my journey through OYAP Trust’s mentoring scheme. Now I am reflecting on my experiences as I grow as a young professional.
Come visit and feel free to comment. Part of the reason I reflect openly is to compel debate and discussion.
One of my recent blogs about Time as a project manager: http://beccart.wordpress.com/2011/10/27/time/
Becca
Posted in Uncategorized
One question I want to put out there for all. One question I have been researching is: Does creativity build resilience and positive well-being for people?
I remember those times I studied Art and was totally engrossed, time flew by when I was working but at no point did I feel judged about my ability to be confident or perform. It had such a positive impact in my life and I hardly felt stressed at all. Now, having left this field and venturing back, I’m surrounded by statements in a profession such as “is this cost-effectiveness”, “how do we strive to improve”, “can we handle multiple pressures.”
I have worked in the world of psychology and although we are taught to be empathetic, compassionate and non-judgemental. On the other side we are value-stricken about our profession in such a contrasting way. Bring in the robots who are super at processing masses of information, can tame their anxities and move over if your emotions and passions are stronger than your mind. Empirical evidence is the gold standard.
This is why I ask, does creativity (art-based subjects) build resilience in us? I feel there’s no right or wrong answer when we create and invest out energies in strengthening our opinions and perceptions, right? So why do we suppress this in our every day lives? Society and people ask for evidence.
Why does it feel like we are so many light years away from promoting this if this is true? Two steps forward for academia and building the perfect professional and one step back for creative autonomy and mindful/senseful living.
Help me out here. I want to hear your views and reasons why! Do we have the evidence out there and is it good enough?
Posted in Sony Dhokia
So, here I am trying to write up an evaluation but you know what? The photos rock! Take a look for yourself and don’t miss out on the projects we have coming up!
http://on.fb.me/nqWWwq
Enjoy!
Sony – www.sonyd.wordpress.com
Posted in Sony Dhokia
NGO – Together England – in Oxford
Together England is an NGO that promotes social mobility, active citizenship, volunteering and participation in young people across the world through organizing cultural youth projects.
Play – Act – Participate:
A Ground-breaking international youth exchange will take place in the Czech Republic and will work on intercultural learning through theatre. It will give you the opportunity to think, reflect and react about themes like European culture/s, European citizenship, global problems, climate changes, racism and xenophobia, problems of young people, etc. In all these subjects, interculturality plays a big role.
A lot of effort will be put into producing high quality theatre about all these topics concerning young people. But even more importantly, there will be the process of preparing the theatre play, where you can take an active role and be the main directors. You will decide on the main topic of the final play and from the beginning, you will be involved in the whole theatre management – preparing the scenario, divide the characters, costumes etc.
Participants will come together from various backgrounds and cultures, with different experience and points of view. You will have an opportunity to discover the intercultural richness through interactive methods and using the beauty of theatre. Young people will share and present their cultures and use intercultural dialogue as a tool to understand their own backgrounds and realise their European identity. You will show the product of the exchange, their short theatre play, to the local community at the end of the project during a public performance.
To get involved you need to be:
* 18 -25 years old
* free from 26th Aug – 3rd Sept 2011
* interested in discussing global issues
Get in touch! email: lil_em00@hotmail.com
Posted in Uncategorized
On the third of July, anxiety was seriously high and I couldn’t quite believe that the day had come around so quick. The two participants and I had decided that we would get ready and take part in the Cowley Carnival last minute, only agreeing to this adventure the night before.
So here we were dressed up, my friend Wing a semi-professional photographer giving his Sunday up and an additional friend droving everyone up to carnival to help. When we arrived, I felt a little insecure about walking around like Alice in Wonderland but we soon felt at home as the children, props and cart full colours rolled up onto our field.
At noon the parade started and again my anxiety shot through the roof as my hat slid straight off my head and broke. It was the main focal point to our part in the parade. Usually in these situations I completely freak out but I hadn’t today, and I know it’s because I was having fun with everyone and regardless of what I thought my two participants looked stunning. It wasn’t about me, it was about the young people representing in this project and I’m sure many people wouldn’t have realised my broken hat either way.
As the procession started we were 30 minutes into walking and jigging like Morris dancing until I froze when the non-existent crowd hit growing larger by the second. I’m not one for unprepared public speaking and attention but I was speechless. Thousands of people young and old gathered around us with cameras and I had to make sure we didn’t fall over or to pieces.
Smiling and waving was something I hadn’t quite factored into the workshops previously so it was a shock to be placed in the limelight and to remain confident. I know we pulled it off once Helen and Caroline from OYAP had jumped in front of us and snapped away taking pics for us. Once the parade had finished many people came towards us asking for pictures and wanting to know about our outfits. Children were asking for our cupcakes and young people falling in love with our unique cupcake dress. I’ve never had that many compliments in one day but it sure felt great to be part of such a project and creative journey.
I want to take this moment to congratulate the girls that took part. They have been the best participants I have worked with and I have been so impressed with their commitment, motivation and creative confidence. Superstars!
Posted in Sony Dhokia
So on Friday Im going in to OYAP for the last time as a ‘Young Leader’ to hand in my Gold Arts Award and say good bye (for the time being.)
It seems a very long time since I had my interview in October. Thinking back to how absoloutly terrified I was about it, I had NOTHING to worry about! The first few months were crazy, learning about promotion and partnership etc, and then from January putting it all in to practice through the Cowley Xchange….it became even more crazy! It feels really quite strange that this part of my life is coming to an end.
For the first time in my life I really feel like I know something useful! We have been given endless oppertunitys through the stepping up programme, most of which I have taken up including Helping at a fundraisers, visiting other arts orgonisations, going to Chile, going to France (which has lead to me getting a job for a year) meeting all sorts of people involved with the youth services in Oxford…the list is endless.
But most importantly OYAP has given me the confidence to know that I can achive whatever I want to if I put my mind to it! Thinking back to how young I was when I started the project is quite mindblowing! I have learnt to work better in a team, I have helped lead a community art project, I have learnt to use new computer software, I am a trained arts awards advisor and I am now employed.
THANK YOU OYAP TRUST!
Posted in Uncategorized
What Makes Art Valuable?
In this argument I use the word valuable to mean “a considerate use, service or importance” hear I focus mainly on the social value of the arts, but it is next to impossible to keep the current climate of cultural cuts away from this issue. So I will briefly address the economic value of art for the British economy. Recent statistics show that for every £1 that is put in to the Arts, it generates £2. With the current economic and political climate since March 2011 £20,534,720 has been lost to the arts. This has generated a loss to the British economy of £41,069,440[1]. This is a colossal amount of money, and the actions of the conservatives which has generated this loss seem exceptionally short sited. ART IS VALUABLE FOR THE ECONOMY
Having now put this to the side I will move on to “outsider art”. I recently attended a talk about outsider art at the Tate Modern, the temple of “insider art”. To start with it seemed strange to host this talk in such an establishment, especially as the Tate famously rejects outsider art and questions its role within the art world. The talk started with a screening of ‘Thou Art’ a documentary film made about the role that making art has for the outsider artist. The general consensus was that outsider artists lived because of art. It was the process that gave their lives structure. One man said;
“The task of making art is what brings Chaos in to order” [2]
Another outsider artist when speaking about her art practice said
“I have something to look forward to all the time” [3]
Often outsider artists have severe emotional, behavioural or social problems which make it impossible for them to integrate fully in to society, they cannot follow the normal patterns of existence and it is vital for them to have a creative outlet for their emotions. Art for them and for those who care emotionally and physically for them is held as the most valuable thing in their lives. ART IS VALUABLE AS A MEANS OF EXPRESSION
When I asked Tracy Emin what she thought made art valuable (via the Southbank Centers ‘Text Tracy Tuesdays) she said;
“I don’t know if there is such a thing as social art. Art is a lonely thing, something from the outside, going out into the world.
I always wanted to be the kind of artist that made a difference…
But it’s only as I get older I realise that the only difference is the perception of the viewer. If you don’t understand what I am trying to say, there is no point in me doing what I do.
Art is a sad lonely world. But hopefully the beauty can make a difference.”[4]
I definitely don’t agree with Emins opinion on what the Value of art is. Essentially she says beauty is the value of art for the viewer so “Art for Arts Sake”, but for the artist the value of art is the ability to express yourself. I would argue that as viewers it gives us a chance to experience things which are out of our realm of our reality, which is why we engage with them, and the fact that they are beautiful is a bonus! However it is not necessary for art to be beautiful to be considered art any longer. ART IS VALUABLE BECUASE IT IS BEAUTIFUL.
I visited “House of Beasts” in Attingham House, a stately home owned by the National Trust in Shropshire. House of Beasts is an exhibition of Modern Art in an unusual setting. My Grandad being a keen art enthusiast and also a costumed guide at Attingham took it upon himself to engage people in conversation about the works displayed around the house and grounds. Some are splendid, beautifully engaged with the surroundings and suitably chosen to do so. Others are ill-fitting, badly chosen and on the whole rather poor art. The majority of people we spoke to seriously condemned the exhibition saying it didn’t belong in the setting, and was a disgrace. Despite these views the art prompted them to engage in conversation with us for a number of minutes. This seemed very interesting to me. Even if the viewers did not like the work, they still had an opinion about it, and it made them engage with two complete strangers even if it was to discuss art in a negative way. Hear surely is the value of art? Even if you don’t like it you can still have an opinion of it, and speak to others about this opinion. ART IS VALUABLE BECAUSE IT MAKES PEOPLE TALK.
Melanie Manchot made the work Celebration (Cyprus Street) 2009 bringing together an entire community through an interactive site specific art work. Manchot worked with the residents of Cyprus Street over a two year period culminating in a street party and a group portrait which tracks using film and photography the group coming together as a community to have their photograph taken. Through the work she questions what it means to be described as a community. She carried out extensive research in the area, visiting archives, pubs, shops, cafes and the community centre, to understand what it meant to be a modern member of an East London community and finally producing a contemporary portrait of this. Although the participants in this project had no creative input to the project, the project brought the community together and allowed them to engage with each other, and an outsider (Manchot) though this creative process. ART IS A VALUABLE WAY OF CREATING UNITY AND COMMUNITY COHESION.
Posted in Arts Award, Caroline Moore, OYAP Trust, Uncategorized
