Community Artist in Residence at Coast Festival, Banff
Craobh nam Miann - Wishing Tree Project @ Coast Festival, Banff, Aberdeenshire... So for the last two weeks, I've been honoured to have been Community Artist in Residence at Coast Festival... I've never worked harder or longer hours, creating a nearly 2m tall 3D Wire Sculpted Wishing Tree whilst also delivering 6 Community Lantern-Making workshops. It has been one of the most beautiful experiences of my career to date, and an amazing affirmation of the relevance and value of Community Arts, as I worked with the SMART (Self-Management & Recovery Training) group, a Drug Addiction Recovery group, as well as members of the Banff Hillwalking Group, in literally putting their names in lights. Seeing the struggles of others and their determination to keep going has been both humbling and encouraging, and I'm deeply grateful to all the hard work of the Festival team in helping to make it happen. And the Banff community for engaging with the work by posting wishes on the tree, from small to great, hilarious to heartbreakingly poignant. I've also been honoured to have been part of assisting one woman's journey of growing self-confidence and making community links in her journey of recovering from addiction. Community Arts... powerful, beautiful and so worthwhile.. thank you to all my various tutors and inspirers on my own journey too...