Alena was invited to design and facilitate a series of art-process-driven workshops as a part of essential community support for displaced people from Ukraine who have recently arrived in Scotland.
Summer classes at Edinburgh Ukrainian Community Centre
AUGB - Ukrainian Community Club, EdinburghSeries of four weekly sessions, July 2022
Exploring emotions through shapes and colour
We used acrylic paint to investigate how we could select colours and add shapes to create harmony while reflecting on our daily moods, and feelings.
Expressing your way with materials and texture
We then experimented and understood the unique properties of materials to communicate ideas and meaning. The theme of this class was to build an imaginary future city using random materials that often are ordinary waste. Both adults and children co-created their projects together. Credit for photography to Cecilia Volpi.
Experimenting with text and mail art
We began a session visiting an atmospheric bookshop around the corner. Back in the studio, we explored how our unique sources of inspiration such as photographs, poetry, and found text fragments can be brought into a series of visual postcards, in which we thought about how to use composition, colour, and the way of delivery to create atmosphere and develop a sense of connection.
Connecting with the city spirit via collage and journaling
We began this session with a short walk around the area foraging, noticing, and sketching on the way. Back in the studio, we had the opportunity to reflect on our findings and feelings learning artistic ways to translate them into a collaborative art process.
