A Celebration of Creating Art with the Community
23 September – 9 December
For 20 years, Jo Bressloff has worked as a freelance artist educator for the learning team at the Gallery and immensely enjoyed providing art workshops and tours for many groups of children, young people and adults who have visited.
In more recent years, Jo has primarily been making art with adult groups in the local community, funded by Southampton City Council’s Adult Learning Service. Creating art projects with various outreach groups in community centres, care homes, hospitals and colleges has been and continues to be a wonderfully enriching and collaborative experience, and it is especially rewarding when people involved in the projects have felt inspired to visit Southampton Art Gallery.
This exhibition showcases a selection of creative projects inspired by the natural environment, that people from local community groups have created while collaborating with Jo. Included are works by young people from Rosewood Free School, residents of Society of St James care home and attendees of the Gallery’s bi-monthly Touch Tours.
examples of work on display
Community Gallery Archive
2021-22
VISIONS 2023
Visions 2023 showcases work created by artists attending Southampton Day Services, a resource for adults with learning difficulties run at Sembal Resource Centre in the Polygon and Woolston Community Centre.
Making Space
‘Making Space’ is a social practice project in collaboration with the Trinity Art Group (TAG), a community of individuals who have experienced or are vulnerable to homelessness, mental health issues, and social isolation.
Quilt of Hope
When Southampton City Council put out a request for innovative projects that addressed the isolation experienced by people during the Pandemic lockdowns, the WEA responded with the Quilt of Hope Project, recognising the special role crafting has in bringing people together with a purpose and improving well-being and mental health for those that participate.
Climate Unity
Hampshire schools have been working on the Climate Unity project this year. It follows on from a successful Climate Forest Installation in 2021.
Life Scape
As part of the Regeneration Project, a joint initiative between PEEER Youth Service at Southampton Children’s Hospital and Theatre for Life which supports children and young people to engage with the arts, culture, advice and physical activity.
The Unlocked Film Club
This exhibition features work created during the 2021 lockdown by first year students of the BA (Hons) Illustration course at Solent University.
2019-2020
Twenty Years
Twenty Years is an interactive installation that is touring UK arts venues. The display is shaped by the participants and, in each venue, visitors are invited to contribute to an archive of thoughts and ideas about the way we might be living in the future.
All About Sea
To coincide with the Mayflower 400 commemorations taking place throughout 2020, local artist Deborah Goatley-Birch was invited to work on a project ‘All About Sea’ with children from Maytree Infant School.