NOT SO CREAM ON CRACKERS
A collaboration between Artist Katryn Saqui and Hella Tappe Pearce
19th April - 1st June 2019
Town Hall Arts, Market Street, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 8EQ
Cream On Crackers, which showcases a body of work by artist and support worker
Katryn Saqui.
Jars of optimism, a pimped-up zimmer frame and film vignettes of Hand Ballet are
just a few of artworks on show in this multi-media exhibition exploring
DadaMentia. This concept created by Katryn, encourages positive and creative
attitudes toward the behaviours of people living with a dementia.
Adopting Surrealist and Dada art movement attitudes, DadaMentia is for people
who have loved ones with an early onset diagnosis of a dementia. It is all about
facilitating uplifting and caring ways to transform the growing confusions and
unusual cognitive pathways into acts of liberation. As a carer for people who
live with a dementia and learning difficulties, Katryn stresses how important
everyday surrealism is for herself, service users and their families alike:
‘Applying critical discourse from my art practice into people’s
home life who need care has enlivened my experience of being a
support worker, it has nourished me and transformed my art
practice into being something more purposeful, it has helped me
to reframe notions of failure and imperfection into positive
poetics of Dementia’.
I’m Not So Cream On Crackers takes its title from a collaborative artist in
residence project Katryn undertook in 2015 with Hella Tappe Pearce, who is
living with a dementia. Much of the work created with Hella and Music
Facilitator Livia Sevier will be shown in the exhibition, which includes
photography, film, paintings, sculpture and audience participation.
Collaboration is at the heart of everything Katryn does and has driven many of
the projects she has undertaken, which have aimed to break down isolation and
predictability and embrace the spontaneous. Katryn’s next big ambition is to
embark on a PhD, which will allow her to explore DadaMentia on an even deeper
level:
I am a friend of Dementia. This exhibition is about revealing
the creative work with Hella and Livia, and how it has
continued to inform and develop my ongoing dialogue with
Dementia since 2015. This exhibition and DaDaMentia project is
my pledge to inspire and facilitate others to find ways to
merge their own skills and interests to care for their loved
ones.
The exhibition at Town Hall Arts is a step in the right direction for Katryn,
who hopes to reach out to people living with a dementia, as well as their carers
and families, through the work on display and events free of charge.
An exhibition launch will take place on Thursday 18 April, 6.30-8pm and will
include an interactive DadaMentia activity. On Saturday 20th April 10.30am-12.30
Katryn will be running an Automatic Drawing Workshop as part of the next Explore
Art Trowbridge event with Trowbridge Museum and Drawing Projects UK.
Katryn will also run free sessions for family members with loved ones living
with early-onset dementia; providing a supportive environment to share
experiences introducing participants to everyday creative interventions. These
will take place during Dementia Action Week (20 – 26 May). Please contact Town
Hall Arts for more information.
Contact Town Hall Arts on 01225 774306 or info@townhallarts.co.uk
Town Hall Arts is open Monday – Friday, 10am-4pm, Saturdays, 10am-2pm
(Closed Bank Holiday Mondays)
END
For more information please contact Katie Ackrill: visualarts@townhallarts.co.uk