As part of our 10 year celebrations we worked with the fabulous Cabasa Carnival Arts. We used our artistic talents to create some legacy flags and what an experience it was!
Scroll to the bottom of the page for pictures and click here for a video.
I think there were a few sceptics amongst the team when I started talking about us making flags but having seen what Cabasa had created with other organisations I had every confidence that we were in for a treat.
I first came across Emily, who runs Cabasa, at an event in Greater Manchester. Being curious about what her organisation did, I started having a look at their website. I was so inspired by what I saw that I got in touch with Emily and explained that for our 10 year celebrations I wanted people we support to have the opportunity to create a legacy piece of art that represented Persona and that we could keep for years to come. Emily gave me a few options and the one we felt fit the brief best was to create 2 silk flags using batik.
In order to develop the design for the flags, our Persona Your Voice Committee spent a session creating a mood board expressing all of the things that Persona meant to them. As you can imagine there was so much content from our values, Persona Bake Off, to growing things and getting active.
Emily and her team were delighted with all of the creative ideas that emerged and set about capturing the common themes and turning them into images. They created 2 x 3m long pieces of art simply outlining in black on white.
Now the magic could begin! Emily hosted sessions at Escape and Grundy Hub Get Social, and within those sessions people from across Persona got involved laying the silk over the template and drawing the batik wax in line with the images showing through from underneath. Emily was so patient and explained exactly how to use the wax, how best to hold the brush and when to refill. The key to getting a good wax line was having confidence, and it was so great to see people trying this new technique for the first time and growing in confidence with every brush stroke. One gentleman was nervous to get involved "my hand won't stay steady" he said to me. With a little encouragement he was soon brushing away with confidence and creating amazing work.
The thing was it didn't need to be perfect - it didn't matter if a little bit went in the wrong place - it's what makes it unique and authentic.
Once the wax was dry, the painting began. There was no holding back! Pinks, yellows, purples, greens and blues to represent our values.
It was fascinating to watch it come to life - the product of the efforts of so many people. What was also interesting was how different people approached it. Some people loved painting the detailed sections, a bee or a butterfly, intricately painting between the lines. Others preferred the freedom of a bigger space to really let their paintbrush run wild.
Once they were done, Emily took them away to dry, seal and press and they re-emerged like butterflies themselves at our Christmas Fair. They are simply stunning.
Every time I look at them I see something else: a new little detail or the way two colours are blending together. They are unique and they are authentically ours. Everyone involved can see what they contributed to the end product. What's even better is the buzz that was created in making them and people's enthusiasm to do more projects like that. Creativity is so important for our souls. Not only that, being part of a shared piece of work gives you a common purpose with others - something to share in together. When people were waxing and painting they were also talking. Reminiscing about their memories of art when they grew up, or the artistic people they have in their families.
The end product is great - the process of creating it is even better.
Kat Sowden, managing director.
Want to read more about how we celebrated 10 years of Persona?
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