INVOLVE Mid Devon has had the pleasure of running a series of creative workshops aimed at gathering insightful feedback from the Ukrainian community, their hosts, and supporters in the Mid Devon area.
Providing open and creative spaces for people to have fun, engage, and express their thoughts is a fantastic way to build connections and understanding within the community.
The project was fortunate to enlist the talents of Bindy Saywood from The White Room Creative Space and Helen Hamilton from River-Ways Art.
Together they crafted a series of fantastic workshops that unfolded over the past few weekends.
The fruits of these creative endeavours will be proudly displayed at The White Room Creative Space Christmas Fair on December 3.
Helen explained: “Using the creative arts is always a powerful bridge to connect cross culturally, and painting with metaphors can speak more than a thousand words.
“In our workshop time together, we provided a creative space for our Ukrainian guests to reflect and provide honest feedback on their experience of living here in Crediton so far.
“With the paintings now being exhibited locally we, as the wider community now have the opportunity to listen and reflect on how our care and support can improve going forward.”
Bindy ran a series of three workshops.
“Pottery is a huge part of Ukrainian heritage, with some Ukrainian ceramic traditions (as well as Ukrainian Borscht and Vareniki dumplings) now having been added to UNESC’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
“I wanted to ensure this was recognised in the workshops. We used terracotta clay, very similar in colour and texture to clay used in much of the traditional Ukrainian pottery, and then used simple hand building techniques and then tools and stamps for mark making and decorating the surfaces.
“Each person was invited to make miniature clay pots and vessels, animals and objects, which in some way related to Ukraine, and which once fired in the kiln at The White Room, will be put together to form a display in the hub area at The White Room’s Christmas Art and Craft Fair on Sunday, December 3.
“There was such a lovely group of people taking part and it was great to have a mixture of men, women, children and young people, some with very little English, and many having done no, or very little pottery before.
“Each person brought something unique. The variety of things created was amazing. There were miniature traditional Ukrainian shaped vases, vessels, Borscht pots and bowls, miniature Vareniki, the traditional Ukrainian dumplings, a basket of Ukrainian mushrooms, lots of birds and animals, a tortoise called John/Iban/Ivan, and even Darth Vader. It has been a wonderful learning experience for us all, and great fun!”
She added: “As a separate part of the project, I also asked each person to create a small flat piece of clay with names, words, textures and designs.
“I am using these to create a clay patchwork covering two round pots which are being made as a (will be a) contemporary version of the famous traditional Ukrainian joined pots which were, historically, used to carry food to the field. The plan is to also have this on display as part of the final exhibition.
“It has also been wonderful to work in collaboration with Involve Mid Devon on this project, and in particular with Tamlyn Fraiquin, the new Crediton Community Builder. She has been amazing, and I know will be a real asset for Involve and to the Crediton community.
“My task now is to focus on how all the pieces will come together to form a final collaborative piece, ready for display at the Christmas Fair.”
To find out more please contact Bindy at: [email protected] or 07422 812894.
Tamlyn, the Crediton Community Builder for Involve, shared her gratitude for the support and kindness shown by many, but wanted to express particular thanks to Jan Hadley and Jennie Ford, emphasising their instrumental role in introducing her to the Ukrainian community and providing unwavering support throughout the workshops.
She said that their selfless dedication to fostering connections within the community has left a lasting impression.
She commented: “These amazing individuals serve as a beacon of inspiration for the broader community.”
Involve Mid Devon, supports and promotes voluntary and community action across Mid Devon.
It can provide support to new and existing charities, community groups and organisations to help develop and connect.
Tamlyn can be contacted by emailing: [email protected] .
She continued: “It is vital that we listen and engage with the community and understand how we can support one another and build our resilience and sense of community in this fantastic town.”
She said that Crediton and its surrounding villages boast a plethora of remarkable people, groups, and initiatives, all dedicated to making a positive impact on the community.
Tamlyn’s admiration for the diverse range of talents and the community’s dedication to giving back highlights the vibrant and collaborative spirit that defines Crediton.
She is keen to support continued growth and collaboration, developing, and strengthening the fabric of Crediton’s vibrant community.