SHARING THE LOVE

The great thing about screen printing is that the results are (nearly) always more satisfying than you expect. So with a bit of guidance (and a lot of planning and cleaning up) it's a really rewarding project to do with kids or young people. I've just been asked to run a workshop with Friends Meet Up, a creative group for young people with learning disabilities, and I realised I never shared anything from last year's workshops.
Musgrove Hospital's education department had the equipment in their stores, but no idea what to do with it! Working with children who have to return to the ward regularly, and their teachers, we had a go at some simple designs on paper (bandages safely covered with plastic bags!). We used positive shapes, inked around, so we could keep sharp knives to a minimum!
Event Youth Club gave young people a chance to try screen printing on a very casual basis, running an ongoing workshop through the whole Summer term, amongst the games, sweets and hanging out of the regular Friday evening. Starting with quick and simple silhouettes on paper, and moving through to printing on squares of fabric and finally t-shirts, I was so impressed by the creativity of the young people - especially those who didn't feel art was their thing. Of course, I never remember to take photos when I'm elbow deep in ink and fending off an excited queue, and there were some fantastic prints I didn't get, but here's a sample. I love the personalisation: her own gig t-shirt for a Jesse J concert; great cricket design for a SCCC fan; t-shirt featuring his gaming avatar; self-portrait; fingerprinted initial.

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EVENT youth club is a drop in Friday night club in Cotford St Luke. www.facebook.com/eventyouthclub
FMU is a safe place for young people with learning disabilities http://www.openstorytellers.org.uk/pages/whats_on.html