Rowner Art project

This project was delivered through a series of creative workshops with a group of young people who meet at the community centre in Rowner, Gosport.  The group work is organised by Groundwork Solent and the workshops designed and facilitated by Gail Baird and Dan Bernard of 131 Design, Portsmouth. Gail and Dan constructed a framework of activity within the sessions, deliberately keeping the direction and outcomes flexible so they could respond to the interests and input of the young people. This meant the outcomes would be achievable, realistic and appropriate. Initially, the group were let loose with a range of cameras to record and document what interested them from their immediate surroundings. This activity led to them developing a ‘fashion show’ theme for the work.  They used their photography to produce a series of mono prints, from which they produced a range of t-shirts that they styled, modelled and photographed as their final outcome. The range of creative work produced was delightful in it’s quality and subtlety. It reflected the group’s engagement, commitment and enthusiasm for the project and was full of energy and imagination. The young people worked intuitively with the cameras and imagery, surpassing and surprising themselves with their outcomes. They also provided no end of support for each other and were an absolute pleasure to work with.