Participants in the Good Shepherd’s art and photography class have taken part in a workshop sculpting clay which will eventually form part of an exhibition taking place at the Light House Media Centre in September.
‘Feel at Home in Wolverhampton’ is a project led by British Sri Lankan photographer and community artist Diyodi Menon which has received funding from Arts Council England and works with recyclable materials to be environmentally friendly.
Local artist and photographer and leader of the Good Shepherd art group Chris Manley delivered the session at the Newhampton Arts Centre encouraging participants to explore and explain how they feel about their place in society.
“During the workshop we sculptured a number of figures out of clay to represent displaced members of the public,” says Chris.
“The idea is to have a single figure which will be facing the crowd and the Good Shepherd clients will then move the pieces around to express how they feel the community relates to them.”
This process will then be filmed by artist and director Tess Radcliffe, who is currently working with local communities on a project about Whitmore Reans being funded by the Esmee Fairburn Foundation.
“It was the most wonderful morning with Diyodi, Chris and Neil Booth a key worker from the Good Shepherd,” said Tess.
“Clay is a great material for facilitating the great conversations that were had as part of my commission.”
The Good Shepherd’s art and photography class is one which is extremely popular with service users, who have also seen their work exhibited both across the city and at the Good Shepherd’s ‘It Starts With A Meal’ immersive exhibition held on the premises as part of the British Art Show earlier this year.