Reflection time

After we had finished our bags, we worked through a series of five questions that got us to look at how and why we had created the bags.

First this was completed independently and then this was built upon as a group. When the reflection time was completed, we then decided to create a reflective piece of work to contain all of this really valuable information. These kids of pieces of work are great for future portfolios and also for Arts Award!

Here are Jess's and Lauren's reflection sheets.

Jess reflects on her bag.

Lauren reflects on her bag.

The finished bags!

Bag Me One of Those!

Bag Me: Week Two

After the massive success last week with the bag project we continued with this project, working a little deeper into the core skills of the work.

Everyone added things into their bags that represented different parts of who they are and added their name to the bottom of the bag to complete their "take away me."

Lauren adding bits of herself into the bag!

Bags: Week One (Jess and Lauren)

Lauren's Self Portrait

Jess's Eulogy

Bag Me One of Those!

This week we made start on a project where you have to recreate yourself...as a bag!


There has been some great self portraiture work along with some really lovely peer comments that are boosting esteem and motivation throughout the group.


My camera has decided to have a wobble and has randomly deleted the pictures of the work that I had taken. As such, I will follow this post with some pictures when I can take some more on Wednesday.


More to follow then!

Drawing and Communication

Last week was a monumental week for the REALISE group. We have reassessed our goals and made a group 'pact' to work together more successfully to try and reach these goals through our project.

To kick start new group spirit we had a go at a drawing and communication exercise. The idea behind the exercise is to demonstrate how important clear and concise communication is to completing, well anything really!

Participants sit back to back with one facing a table. The participant at the table (A) get's a sheet of paper and a pen/pencil, the other participant (B) get's a sheet of images. B's task is to pick an appropriate image and then describe the image to A so that A can draw the image as accurately as possible.  A's task is to draw from B's instructions, listening and following directions carefully.

After participants have completed the activity, review the results before switching places and having another go!

We found that second time around, the task was much more successful as the communication was better and also as we had been in the other participants place so we had an empathetic reaction, making us complete the task to a higher standard.

Great fun!

No it's like this!

How do I describe this?

Impossible Arts

A big thanks goes out to Chris and Charlotte who helped introduce our new project of shadow puppets with an audio-visual show and practical making session.

See how we got on in these images from the day:

Chris manipulating Lauren's puppet (incomplete)

Chris's simple monster puppet

Charlotte trying out different manipulation techniques.

We discovered that if you press the puppets up to the shower curtain you get a totally different effect.

Omar with the groups first complete puppet. Now let's make super scissor man HUGE!!!!

As you can see, we had a great time and learnt lots about making puppets and how to create good shows; music, sound effects; the comic rule of three; lighting and characters are all important as well as having cool puppets!

Here's to another five sessions of puppetry fun!

Leeds Art Gallery

Getting started

Visiting an Art Gallery for the first time can be intimidating as it is hard to know what you can and can not do. Also, it seems that there are all these unwritten rules as to how to behave and what you should do. So, what better a way to get int o the sing of things than with a trip with the rest of the REALISE group?

We were very lucky to be able to spend some time in the Artists Rooms: Damien Hirst section of the gallery, a touring show which finishes this week! This is the first time Damien Hirst has ever shown his work for free in a public gallery and the response has been phenomenal with over 11,000 visitors in the first week alone.

To find out more about the touring Artist Rooms: Click here!

In this exhibition we talked about really big questions such as what is art and who decides what is art?

Here are some images of Damien Hirst's work below. Do they look like Art to you? Why? What might have influenced you?

Most believed this is art due to it's colour and pattern. Do you agree?

A sculptural triptych made using anatomical models, all were pre-made. Is this Art?

'Away from the Flock' from the Natural History series which Hirst is arguably most famous for.

'The Anatomy of an Angel,' 2008. How was this made? Did Hirst make it?

Panel from 'Pharmacy' restaurant that Hirst set up in 1998 in London.

Damien Hirst split opinions with some believing that his work was skillful and interesting with themes about death and life. Others in the group did not feel his work was art as a lot of things were pre-made or not created by him. Some felt that it depended what piece you were looking at and how you were 'reading it' that decided whether the piece was art or not.

If you are interested in the Art Gallery, Damien Hirst or other contemporary artists, see one of the delivery team for more information!

Rebekah Caputo Visit in Pictures

Rebekah Caputo with hand puppet

Bunraku style puppet

Shadow puppet from up-coming show

Behind the puppet: moving parts

Rebekah Caputo Visit

Last week was our first review week and we were lucky enough to a visit from a professional puppeteer, Rebekah Caputo.


Rebekah lives and works locally making and performing for many different types of shows over the years including physical theatre and shadow puppetry. 


Rebekah bought along examples of Bunraku style puppets from previous solo shows as well as shadow puppets from an upcoming joint venture.


To find out more about Rebekah's work, click here!