In recent months Covid-19 Reflections has offered spaces and opportunities for residents to think back on their experiences of the past three years. Now the community is invited to share them.
175g of electronic devices by Tadhg Devlin who worked with young people in Malpas
From rural and marginalised communities and with participants ranging from children to elderly people, residents across Cheshire West and Cheshire have been given the opportunity to creatively explore the impact of the pandemic. Through crafts, performance, podcasts and more, a huge archive of Reflections have been created and on 23rd October those who have contributed will share the work they produced.
The event will take place at Theatre Porto in Ellesmere Port and anyone is welcome to drop in between 11am and 4pm. There will be a shared moment between 1.15 and 2pm.
Films and performances will be presented in the Theatre space while in the Cafe workshop Liverpool artist Jayne Lawless will present Unlocked Lockdown. Lawless worked with residents and a foodbank based at Westminster Community Centre, in Ellesmere Port. Her project collected local stories; and by working with an illustrator, writer and podcast producer they created a range of work that look at how the pandemic has altered society and its structures.
A sketchbook produced by the community in Ellesmere Port resulted in a book, A Dog Called Bear
Visitors will also be able to interact with The Exchange, an installation by Filament Projects based on an old telephone exchange, and listen to conversations with people in social care about their experiences of the pandemic.
"The exhibitions, stories, and reflections will be passed to our archives so future generations will be able to better understand this period we experienced."
In the Rehearsal Room, socially engaged photographers Ciara Leeming, Tadhg Devlin and Sam Ivin will present their images, films and audio from their Lost Voices project. They have worked with Gypsy and Traveller communities, carers and rural communities to listen to and share their stories.
Got Through It by Ciara Leeming pulls together the experiences of seven different Gypsy and Traveller girls
In the Meeting Room and around the building artists and communities will be presenting work from the Reflections micro commissions. Among them, Castle Park Arts Centre and artist Helen Davies will share a display of fused glass, Crosshatch Gallery will be displaying craft projects and yarn bombing, and Little Actors will present their verbatim theatre pieces.
Fused glass artist Helen Davies worked with the community to create a permanent installation
Councillor Louise Gittins, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council said:
“Please join us for this final Covid-19 Reflections Showcase at Theatre Porto. There will be a chance to look back at the many different elements that have appeared over the past few months.
“The exhibitions, stories, and reflections will be passed to our archives so future generations will be able to better understand this period we experienced during the Covid pandemic.
“I’d like to thank everyone who has taken part in these reflections, both as a contributor and as part of the audience, many of us have experienced the same or similar experiences as those that have shared their stories.”
The Covid-19 Reflections Final Showcase will take place at Theatre Porto in Ellesmere Port and anyone is welcome to drop in between 11am and 4pm. There will be a shared moment between 1.15 and 2pm.
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