Water Fights

 

Daniel Lehan: We Open Up to Everyone... Even You!

Daniel Lehan is an artist who worked with children from Pelican estate throughout March. The plan was to talk to the children living there and listen to stories, ideas, and tales about the area they live, in order to put together a zine which could be given back out to residents on the estate.

 

The children took photographs, made drawings and spoke and wrote about their estate which Daniel then compiled into the zine. It is called 'We Open Up to Everyone... Even You!' which was taken from a conversation Daniel had with one of the children.

 

Here are some of the images:

 

Windy Day Play

Simple things are often the most fun...

 

 

A Small Space

John likes small spaces. One of his favourites at the Shop of Possibilities is an old water butt, which he can fit into perfectly. I think it's extra exciting for him because he's one of the few children that are small enough to fit inside completely.

 

When the other children took notice, they decided they wanted to be a part of this, so they began to push him around the estate:

 

Rolling...

Others check to see if John is ok. He is!

 

Word of Mouth

There's no doubt that children telling their friends about the Shop of Possibilities and Play Local is the best way to get new people involved. Word of mouth is always the best type of promotion.

 

Emily, one of our regular visitors to the Shop of Possibilities thought that it would be a good idea if she put together a booklet explaining what happens at the Shop of Possibilities and what new people can expect when they arrive.

 

She had been telling me that when she first came, the space was very different from how she had imagined it. Her thoughts were based on what her friend had told her, and she gave me the description in great detail, to which I replied that it would be interesting to hear how she would describe the space to those who hadn't been before.

 

At the end of the session I was presented with a very detailed leaflet, made by Emily. She included lots of her own views and opinions, and also some practical information like the opening times and the estates that we focus on. It was too good to not share with you all!

 

 

Asking Big Questions

Artists Helen Rousseau and Rachel Russell began their Play Local workshops on Wyndham and Comber estate last Saturday. The children became scientific investigators and began exploring big questions about the known and the unknown, the possible and the impossible. Have a look at what they got up to below, and if you want to join in then they'll be on the estate every Saturday afternoon throughout June.

 

One of the big questions.

Becoming investigators.

Exploring time.

Half Term Noise Making

Artist Tom White returned to Southampton Way estate over the May half term holiday. He brought with him microphones, recorders, megaphones, and a load of other noise enabling objects and materials. The children were free to explore the area in whichever way they saw fit, by making sounds, recording them or listening to them. The recordings that the children made will feed into Tom's upcoming installation as part of the South London Gallery's summer exhibition At the Moment of Being Heard 

Here are some images from the sessions (Photographs: Tom White):

Using the railings to make sounds

Listening



Leftovers

Not that noisy, but chalk drawing is fun!

Taking over the playground

Chalk everywhere

Loud!

Food and Drink Here!

So Ben decided to take charge of the refreshments today. He built a shop outside of the Shop of Possibilities and then made the others queue up if they wanted a drink!

 

Restocking

It was so successful that during the following session Ben made a more elaborate structure inside the Shop of Possibilities, complete with signage. 

Waiting for customers

Happy shopkeeper

Rebecca Rabbit in the Forest

Rebecca Rabbit in the Forest is a story and puppet show created by Emily and Tamzin. The pair spent the whole afternoon building their puppet theatre, creating a backdrop, making their puppets and coming up with a captivating story they could share with the rest of the group.

 

Constructing the theatre.

Clear instructions!

Getting ready to perform.

The audience watches on!

Since it's creation, many of the other children have also taken their turn at staging their own productions.

 



The Leaning Tower Sculpture

Jack normally likes destroying things, but today he decided he wanted to make something. He didn't know what, he just collected a few objects that he found interesting and went from there.

 

It began with an old projector screen stand and a bike.

Then he tried to make it taller with wooden sticks and a bucket.

Balancing game...

After it fell over, Jack started again.

This was the result!

 

Jack was very clear about his intentions for the work, stating that "it should go in the art gallery". These photos were presented to gallery staff the following morning and his efforts received some positive feedback!