#bristolbraveryschoolforwomen

WHAT

Early January 2017 an artists residency courtesy of Artspace/Lifespace.

The aim; to work with practitioners from a range of disciplines,

beginning with a call out for collaborators through Theatre Bristol

and for me to explore further working as a social artist, as defined by Jean Houston.

"Social Artistry is the art of enhancing human capacities in the light of social complexity.

It seeks to bring new ways of thinking, being and doing to social challenges in the world."

This pilot project explored the personal, professional and

cultural narratives around women and bravery through a range of methodologies.

Diving in to deconstruct . . .

BRAVERY

breɪv(ə)ri/

noun: bravery

courageous behaviour or character.

"perhaps I'll get a medal for bravery"

synonyms: courage, courageousness, pluck,

pluckiness, braveness, valour,

fearlessness, intrepidity,intrepidness, nerve, daring,

audacity, boldness dauntlessness, doughtiness,

stoutheartedness, hardihood,

manfulness, heroism, gallantry;

backbone, spine, spirit,spiritedness, mettle,

determination, fortitude,

resolve, resolution;

informalguts, grit,spunk, gutsiness, gameness;

informal - bottle, ballsiness;

informal - moxie, cojones, sand;

vulgar slangballs

"he received a medal for bravery"

on our cultural assumptions, exploring

the stories we tell ourselves,

and the tales we tell others . . .

Lifting the lid

LETS

CHANGE THE STORY

WHY

In a world where women still experience oppression, discrimination and challenge

in both overt and subtle ways, through oppressive regimes, corporate and public institutions,

and of course some of it, experienced from other women . . .

Bravery School sought to deconstruct some of those individual and cultural narratives

exploring how we can CHANGE THE STORY . . .

Myths & Fairytales 6 - exploring stories.jpg

HOW

Working with a live and exploratory lab in collaboration with other practitioners,

exploring personal & professional stories using a range of techniques,

movement, performance, recorded dialogue and reflective journaling.

We worked with UWE Photography Research Group with two second year students,

Hannah Wirgman and Sarah Robbins, who documented some of our sessions,

helped us to produce a series of tableaux stills to illustrate some of the themes we explored,

in addition to producing some experimental audio and a mini film of stills.

We devised 2 performance pieces based on 'labelling' which we then showcased

with a follow up discussion and Q&A during our week long exhibition

featuring the photography and film produced

thanks to Hannah and Sarah.

WHERE

PART 1 - In the old Victorian Jacobs Wells Baths at the bottom of Jacobs Wells Rd,

9 Jacob's Wells Road, Bristol, City of Bristol BS8 1DL

PART 2 - The Gallery - Artspace/Lifespace - The Island, Nelson St, Bristol BS1 2BE

WHEN

PART 1 ~ The Exploration ~ Tuesday 3rd to the Tuesday 17th January 2017

PART 2 ~ Exhibition, Launch, Showcase Performance & Q&A

~ Tuesday 24th to Sunday 29th 2017

WHO

Rosalind J Turner ~ Artist in Residence

Lead Facilitator and Curator

Collaborators ~ Lottie Ball, Annabelle Paul, Deborah Temple, Delicia Sefiha

Visiting Contributors ~ Tallulah Rendell, Fen Begais and Wendy Buonaventura

Additional Photography from Claire Williams

Was supported By

Thank you again to Artspace/Lifespace for making this opportunity

and an especially big thank you to Dina Ntziora, the Island's Project Manager 2017

Bound by Labels 1-watermarked_edited_edited.jpg

bravery school feedback from collaborators

What did you personally get out of it?

Knowledge
Inspiration
Collaboration
Creative Time
Sharing

Delicia Sefiha

Opportunities to work with other talented women, to listen, learn, share & respect
To hear what I’d been unconsciously carrying spoken
To sit with myself reflectively
To understand different leadership styles
Opportunities to move – an awe of flexibility
An interest in Qi Gong, attending a Vogue event & a Story Telling weekend workshop
The joy of collaborative voice work
Entertainment & Exploration
BRAVERY - I recognised that within this collaboration, I still have work to do on:- BRAVERY
Confidence in my ability to construct Drama workshops & apply for jobs

Deborah Temple

The joy of working with supportive, interesting and open people – Annaliese Paul

The beauty of connecting with this group of women. The vignettes were powerful and edgy and it was amazing to feel the trust and the openness in the group. For me to just step in and feel this automatically means the work you did in my absence must have been extremely profound because it really felt such a safe space. To witness everyone truly speaking from their hearts and speaking their truths was an amazing thing.

Women collaborating, women celebrating other women… really amazing experience. For me this was demonstrated clearly during the red wool spontaneous piece that came together at the showcase.

For me personally as a practitioner - the affirmation that I can just step in and facilitate or create. I don’t need huge amounts of planning I just need to turn up, tune into the space and allow what needs to come through to do exactly that.

It was a very affirming experience for me. To be so fluid and spontaneous and effective. It was amazing to see that I can do that – for the session when I didn’t realise I was leading something and stepped up to do so. Also my ability to step up when needed. My confidence has been shaken recently due to personal issues so to have this experience at this time meant a huge huge amount to me. So thank you.

TALLULAH RENDALL

I enjoyed the journey. I feel even more able to let go and trust that something interesting and valuable will always come when given the right conditions and an attitude of absolute commitment and presence. LOTTIE BALL

bravery school feedback from collaborators

What were the highlights of the experience for you?

Meeting some fantastic people, dedicating time to explore emotive ground, working creatively with an interdisciplinary team.

The curry and the bagpipes. – Annaliese Paul

Witnessing different leadership styles
The bringing of kindling wood for ideas to hopefully to be explored in more detail at a later date
Being in the Gallery and engaging with other women, asking them about themselves and their experiences/take, on Bravery - Deborah Temple

Performing the vignettes
When I realised that when the showcase & discussion finished some people wanted to stay in the exhibition room for longer and discuss and share their views - Delicia Sefiha

Meeting/playing/exploring with the group.
Creating thoughtful, reflective, powerful work.
Dancing with Delicia.
Dressing up together.
Working in Jacobs Wells.
Voice work.

Lottie Ball

Your flexibility, your welcoming, your celebration, your trust in me
Very quickly being welcomed by an amazing group of women.
Experiencing the trust and incredible holding in the space
Incredible pushing of boundaries and touching on deep issues in a really beautiful and profound way.
The way everyone listened and each person was able to express their emotions in the moment and be held which was beautiful.
The balance of having structure and fluidity and the potency that comes from that harmony.
Being part of something that to me feels very important