A one-day workshop for adoptees plus two Zoom meetings
When: Pre-workshop online meeting: Wednesday 29th March from 6 to 7.30pm on Zoom
In-person workshop: Sunday 2nd April from 10am to 4pm at Laneway Learning. Lunch will be provided.
Post-workshop online meeting: Tuesday 4th April from 6 to 7.30pm on Zoom
Where (in-person workshop): Laneway Learning Level 3, Nicholas Building, 15/37 Swanston St, Melbourne
About this course:
In this new workshop from VANISH, participants will explore the common threads of the lived experience of being adopted in a tangible, tactile, and textural art form. The workshop will be led by Nicole Kemp, a textile artist and experienced teacher, and supported by VANISH staff member SallyRose Carbines, who is an adoptee and has worked with adoptees for many years.
No sewing ability or experience is required! Participants will learn simple stitching techniques and can also use felt, scissors, and glue.
At the one-day in-person workshop (Sunday 2nd April), participants will each create a small textile square, guided by Nicole. Everyone’s adoption story is different, and participants will be supported to find their individual voice using words, colour, and texture. A Zoom session will be held prior to the workshop to help participants choose one word or image to depict on their individual piece, and after the workshop to help participants finish their pieces if necessary and for any follow-up questions.
After the workshop, all the individual pieces will be joined as a banner connecting the common threads of the adoption experience and building a collective visual narrative. The banner will be exhibited and used for special events, and over time could become a recognisable symbol for adoptees.
About Nicole:
Nicole Kemp has been involved in teaching art and crafts for over 30 years. She started her working life as a secondary school art teacher and later became involved in teaching children, teens and adults through community centres. She has been part of several group and solo exhibitions where she exhibited textile art.
Nicole promotes the use of textiles to explore thoughts, feelings and reactions to personal experiences. She loves to encourage people to explore their own ideas and themes while teaching specific techniques to help build confidence.
Nicole is passionate about community connection and aims to provide a caring and safe environment where everyone is valued. From this, people gain confidence to express themselves and move into areas of art they never thought they would attempt. She believes that creating art within a group, working closely with other people and sharing food can help to relieve participants from their anxiety and fear, and to laugh, sing and chat loudly and freely.
Instagram: @nekemp
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kempelisabethnicole/
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For any other enquiries, please contact us at info@vanish.org.au
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