Volunteering

Most Wednesday mornings now I'm volunteering in the art room of the day program of Penn Mar, an educational, vocational, and residential program for disabled adults. It is much like SHAPE on Saint Helena, except...bigger. And minus a banana grove among other sub-tropical things but mostly...the same.

The art room is a large, well lit space with big tables, a countertop with sink and a walk-in closet of ever changing supplies, mostly donated.

To help the full-time mentors, I've agreed to find and prep projects for two groups of 4-10 students each when I'm there. (Pinterest is my friend :-) Group sizes change as there is an importance placed on outings - which I think  is great - and any given day a number of people are out and about in the community going to the library, YMCA, shopping, lunch and so on.

At first I just really wanted to get to know people and let them get to know me. Now 6 months in, I have a better gauge of different people's abilities and weaknesses. So I've put some art concepts and words out there. "Monochrome" was a big hit even if it didn't end up being monochrome because who in the world would only want ONE color and black and white when you can have them ALL? (Some people made true monochromatic paintings that were fantastic...and of which I forgot to take photos.)

This blazing field of flowers is one of my favorite pieces produced so far. (I'm sure Van Gogh would have agreed.) I had suggested students use crayons for stems then dip their fingers in paint to make dots for flowers but John preferred to blend. And like most great art, his breaking of the rules makes this piece sing.

.

Spindleworks

I was so thrilled to visit Spindleworks Studio for a second time while we were in Brunswick, Maine in July - it was the first visit for my husband.

Spindleworks shop

If you're not familiar, Spindleworks is a progressive arts studio, that is, a "fine art studio environment where adults with developmental disabilities can pursue and maintain lives/careers as artists" according to the website Disparate Minds.

Weaving and fiber arts room

We got there early enough in the day to get an artist guided, very thorough, tour and a chance to visit the ceramic studio which is only open during the warmer months. I even got to meet Caroline who's work I collect.
                                                 

A few days later we headed inland to Gardiner, ME to stop in at Spindlework's sibling studio, Spin Off. This studio space is smaller and not as well supplied yet but its a beginning and the artist working there were prolific and confident in their work which was wonderful to see.

Stacks of artist trading cards.

If progressive art interests you please be sure to check out the website Disparate Minds. In addition to topic related articles and gallery opening announcements they have a listing of progressive studios organized by state so maybe you can find a studio near you to visit. If you do, please be sure to let me know - I'd love to hear about it! 

Visiting spindleworks

I made a flying trip to one of my favorite places in the world at the beginning of the month. Maine never disappoints. We were fortunate to catch the leaves just starting to change color.

It was fortuitous that the most recent addition of ACC magazine with an article highlighting spindleworks - a progressive art center for disable adults in Brunswick arrived just a few weeks before the trip and I put it on the "places to stop" list.

spindle works shop

Although we got there too late in the day to meet with any artists,  the director was kind enough to give me a tour. I was so inspired but the quality and the volume of the work being produced. The have painting, sculpture, ceramic and weaving studios. They have a dark room, have started film/multi media production and even had their first fashion show this year. Its a truly impressive place.

paint studio

I hope to make an adventurous winter trip (winter in Maine?) in the next couple of months so my husband and I can spend a full day or two at spindleworks.  I feel certain there is a lot we can learn here to take with us on our next trip to volunteer with SHAPE in Saint Helena and I'm looking forward to meeting artists while they're working.

To learn more about how spindle works started (surprisingly it was with weaving) and how they work today, be sure to read this article on Disparate Minds.

weaving studio

Taking SHAPE

SHAPE campus at what was originally Sandy Bay Primary school.

SHAPE, Saint Helena Active Participation in Enterprise, was birthed about 11 years ago, by a couple of Saint Helenians and modeled after the Soltane schools. It was a humble beginning with a few students and directors learning on they go. There is great pride taken, as it should be, that now 20 or so disabled adults and receive education, encouragement, job training and a variety of services three days per week.  In that time fifteen people have “graduated” and moved on to independent employment. 

We're helping in a variety of ways, although I've mainly been in the craft room and Kyle is working on two murals. We research craft methods/patterns, discuss design and help source supplies as getting stuff from the outside world on such a remote island is a task unto itself. We chat and encourage and drink tea. Oh yes, always tea.

Samuel has spent almost all of his time outside helping with the farming – pruning banana trees, planting potatoes, harvesting chow chow – all of which is taken home by students or sold to help support the center. (For a kid who wants to be a farmer this is like tropical, muddy heaven.)

The craft room.

Bangle bracelets that I designed using one of SHAPE's materials of choice, cereal boxes.

Banana and potatoes all in the same garden!

The needs of of students, or trainees as they are called, are varied. While some were born severely neurologically and or physically disabled, others suffered a stroke as an adult or were the victim of incorrect misdiagnosis of disease and subsequent lack of proper medical treatment.

Some people may wonder if this sort of environment is depressing – oh for sure it could be. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed when I fully think about the limitations of the students, what their daily lives must be like, what their families lives must be like. And for the tireless employees who are there 5 days per week no doubt there can be great stress and sadness. 

But day to day, SHAPE is mostly a place of relationship, laughter, amazing kindness and opportunity to find meaning. Daily I am challenged to think differently about how I act and speak and think about myself and my own problems. I hope I am giving to them as much as they are giving to me.

SHAPE's recycled paper, illustrations added by Jeannie, beads rolled by me = teamwork! She and I are really proud of these babies. 

Jeannie can only use one arm but she amazes me by making bracelets and even earrings. Here she's laying out a necklace with beads she and I made together. 

Far out in the South Atlantic

Seventeen days since leaving home, just over a week since arriving to Saint Helena. When you are here...you are really, really here as the nearest land is an even smaller island 2 days away by sea and the east coast of Africa is 1200 miles to the east.

Impromptu jewelry design on the beach in Cape Town.

Our flight (BWI to JFK to OR Tambo to CPT) was long but uneventful. Thats all you can really ask for in a 24 hr. economy class flight really, right? Uneventful. Our time in Cape Town was relaxing ( I really like Cape Town...I wish it wasn't so dangerous) but rainy. They need the rain so desperately though.

Deck of the RMS in the early morning.

Next - five day sea journey with calm seas, far too much delicious food and ,as always, interesting company. I must admit the sea sickness patches which do their job well also make me a bit dopey but non the less I always find the assortment of passengers on the Royal Mail Ship Saint Helena a bit like the UN. Saint Helenians traveling home, an Australian travel writer, The Bishop of the South Atlantic for the Roman Catholic Church...we are always the least traveled of the bunch.

Arriving Saint Helena 7:45am.

Our rental house is older this time, built fifty some years ago in the traditional Saint style with the bathroom accessed via the veranda. Our sweeping sea view faces directly west. Every sunset captivates me.

Our home while here. 

Our settling in has been smoother and easier this time. Much is familiar but most importantly friends welcomed us back just like we had only been gone a couple days. Sure there are many cultural differences but when you get down to it, people are really so very much the same. That has struck me so profoundly this time.

Looking north from The Peaks. Flagstaff is the pointy hill on the left. The barn which is volcanic formation is on the right. 

Thus far there's been a good bit of nesting, visiting, hikes and walks. We just started volunteering at SHAPE yesterday and now perhaps life with settle into a bit of a rhythm. 

Ever sunset is a marvel.

Taking SHAPE

SHAPE,  the organization that we volunteered with last summer, has posted a Vimeo about what they do.  Its great to see them growing! We really miss them and I think I've watched the video about 5 times already.

 
SHAPE - St. Helena Island from pillar2post productions on Vimeo.

In between homeschool and re-organzing my wholesale info. I've carved out a little time to work with some of the paper from SHAPE this week. I think considering the preciousness of the paper and size of
the beads I am just going to let myself go with some statement, one of a kind necklaces right now.

Are any of you in Pennsylvania or northern Maryland?  Have you noticed a surge of orb spiders like we have?  The one just off our back porch is eating stink bugs, God bless her!

Have a great weekend!

Good stuff and allure of polymer

We've mostly tried to follow the lead at SHAPE, preferring to find ways to support them rather than reinventing the wheel or turning things upside down.

But on the last full day at the Sandy Bay location, after a phenomenal send off luncheon, the opportunity presented itself to make some beads with polymer clay. The super thing is that you can actually give a very basic intro. class in about 15 mins., can't you?!

--- Soften the clay, follow the baking instructions, wash your hands thoroughly...have fun! ---

Our instructions were a little more detailed than that but not much and there was an immediate interest, comfort and affinity with the mush-ability of clay. (Thats a word, right?)

Woody, who is in charge of the paper recycling, is a true artist and immediately seemed to understand the potential. He asked "what can it do?" and I could see his creative wheels turning. Good stuff. Amazingly he had already ordered some FIMO so he'll have more to play with than the couple of packs that I brought along. Providence.

Then Lolly, the grant writer/teacher, who said she had never done anything creative, really got into it. Within 15 mins. of me teaching her, she was working with Wendy, who is blind , making seed beads!  Good stuff! Others joined in. Within a day they had used all the clay I'd brought.

Wendy went blind 8 years ago from glaucoma  - that could have easily been treated had she had proper eye care. (Saint Helena only has a eye doctor for 6 weeks a year.)  Her situation does not seem to have dampened her spirits or her enthusiasm to try new things. 

 And now we are off - we board the ship at 1400 hrs. But we are so hoping we'll be back soon! 

The backstory

So here's a little history...

Saint Helena is a 47 square mile island, the remnants of a very dead volcano,  located 1200 miles from Namibia and 1800 miles from Brazil in the middle of the South Atlantic. Although technically in the subtropics at 16 degrees south of the equator, the SE Trade Winds give it a subtropical temperate climate with varying micro-climates.  From a historic standpoint, it was discover by Portuguese sailors in 1502, settled by the British in 1659, captured briefly by the Dutch in 1673, recaptured by the British and administered by the East India Co. until 1834 and is now a British Overseas Territory. This is the island "prison" where Napoleon died. 

We first came here June - August 2008 when Kyle was awarded a grant to do photo documentary work. It was a very difficult but amazing experience and although I spent a fair amount of time longing for home, I stood on the deck of the ship on the day we left, not being able to bear the thought of never coming back. 

So here we are again, now "on our own dime". We hope to be able to lend our time, our knowledge and support to people here. 

Here's a video of our drive into the capital "city" of Jamestown. (There should be a little sound attached. We'll see - I've never done this. )

Headed for the other hemisphere

We are officially on a countdown for a big trip to the small island of  Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean! (Yeah, check out that map, its WAY out in the ocean.) As some of you may know this is a return trip for us, having been there in 2008 when my husband was working on a photography project. 

This time we'll be visiting old friends and making new friends volunteering at SHAPE - Saint Helena Active Participation in Enterprise. SHAPE aims to provide training and work related experience for disabled people of working age, with the intention of them leading independent and fulfilling lives.

Much to be done to prepare for this kind of an adventure, much to be done...