PROJECTS
collaborating artisticaly
online
EXPLORING ONLINE COLLABORATIONS DURING LOCKDOWN
“How can people with and without learning disabilities create a positive space to produce artwork together during the pandemic?”
What was the purpose of the workshops?
To explore how to collaborate together as a group of artists and create a positive atmosphere whilst dealing with the restrictions and isolation faced during lockdown.
HOW WE EXPLORED THIS
The workshops took place over 5 Zoom sessions, where I was joined by Lucy
an Inclusive artist, Will (with Kat his PA) and Laura both Rocket artists https://www.rocketartists.co.uk
exploring how artists with and without learning disabilities could create a positive space to produce artwork together during lockdown (Summer - 21).
OUR JOURNEY TOGETHER
As I was aware that we would all have different quantities and types of art equipment, I emailed each participant to ask if they would be happy to recive an art package to use during the project. When I got confermation that everyone was happy with this, I put together an initial ART PACKAGE for each participant, and delivered one to each of them, so that we all had a variety of quality materials to explore with together.
The images both above and below show examples of the slides I created to aid discussions and communication between us as a group.
They were used both at the beginning (to remind us of what we would be doing during the session) and at the end (to aid discussions about what we could do the following session)
The Art Packs were added to after we discussed our favourite mediums. I shared one of my favourite combinations and asked if anyone would be interested in exploring mark making with this particular combination, to which everyone showed an interest in doing so...
Because everyone was keen to explore this further, I put together an Art package containing a bottle of Quink ink and a selection of paintbrushes
and they were again delivered to each participant.
Throughout the workshops we made decisions together about the type of music we would listen to, which I set up for us within the Zoom platform during each session (once agreed upon by everyone)
We explored creative skills and ideas together, listening to music and using different materials.
One of the main things we discovered was that using music whilst creating together was favoured by everyone. This became a huge contributing factor toward creating a positive atmosphere, and it was also found that the different styles of music affected the marks produced.
During our discussions we also decided on the art equipment we would use to create with each week.
Creating in the room together
(Session 2: No music at first then with music for the second part)
Sharing our mark making ideas together
inspiring each other by showing what we were creating and discussing throughout the session
FREEDOM IN RESTRICTION
Collaborating on Zoom, helped to really inspire me when creating, as we were sharing in the experience of listening to music and seeing what marks evolved out of it together.
Although space was restricted both physically and visually, it did not stop us from creating.
Instead, the platform allowed us to collaborate and share a creative experience together that would not otherwise have been possible due to Lockdown.
GALLERY
MARK MAKING CREATED DURING THE WORKSHOPS
accompanied by feedback from participants after completing the programme
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I liked using materials that I don't often use
(on the art packages)
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Relaxing
Foccused
(on listening to music)
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Everyone worked well together
(on something that worked well)
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Nice to see you on Zoom
(on collaborating using an online visual platform)
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We all used the same materials but our marks were very different
(on sharing our art work together on Zoom)
FREEDOM IN RESTRICTION
'Quink Dance'
a creative response inspired by exploring how artists with and without learning disabilities could create a positive space to produce art work together during lockdown
As a Textile Designer, I work in a large space over long periods of time, and although I often listen to music as I create, for this creative response I worked in a restricted space in the moment, allowing the music to inspire the marks I made.
The notion of music becoming part of the creative process first came to me when I was exploring ideas for a short creative session online with a variety of people with different artistic backgrounds, including those from marginalised groups (https://www.rocketartists.co.uk)
EVOKING CREATIVITY THROUGH MUSIC
- My Thoughts -
Is music a way of expanding communication?
Art is a way of expression and music evokes emotions and thoughts, so could the combination of the two create a form of open communication, which connects a group of people collaboratively on another level?
This thought process led me to create a...
...5 Minute collaborative online session creating to music
As a collaborative group drawing in response to music on Zoom, I provided two tracks for us to listen to whilst creating whatever we were moved to.
As we were all working remotely from home, I thought about how I could make the activity work with the materials and space people had available to them, by offering the option for the use of whatever material they wished to use.
Considering the question of how I could include the most excluded person in the ‘room’ I explained that the activity was for anyone who wanted to join in, and that all were welcome... the more the merrier! I suggested that we all think about how the music made us feel during the session and I asked for views on the activity.
The outcome was that when asked for feedback people stated that they
'really enjoyed it' particularly as both tracks were 'relaxing'
People also found that the music made a difference to the marks being made and the colours being used, which is something I was interested in exploring further.
But most importantly to me, the music was a good way to get into the drawing…with participants stating that it '...took away the fear of not knowing what to draw' and
'...just let it flow'.
So...
...I then began to explore creating to music, listening to a variety of different styles...
 MarsGustav Holst 'The Planets' |  Creative Process |  MidnightLofi 'Late night work music' |
|---|---|---|
 Creative Process |  OceanLofi 'smooth music' |  Creative Process |
 SummerLofi 'upbeat music' |  Creative Process |
THE OUTCOME...
Artwork inspired and created whilst listening to MUSIC:
I found the movement, colour and also the choice of equipment I used was inspired by the music.
I also found that listening to the music helped me to relax into creating more, and set a mood.
decision
That MUSIC could really be a good tool in helping us all feel more relaxed and ‘in the room’ together as a group whilst working online during our WORKSHOPS.
Results of thee online collaborative creativity workshops
We discovered that using music whilst creating together was a big contributing factor toward creating a positive atmosphere, as well as affecting the marks we produced.
'Quink Dance' Videos
My videos are inspired by my sessions online, exploring how artists with and without learning disabilities could create a positive space to produce artwork together during lockdown (Summer -21).
Despite physical connections and space being restricted, it didn’t stop us creating; instead, Zoom allowed us to share a creative experience together that would otherwise not have been possible due to lockdown.
Exploring creative skills and ideas together, listening to music and using different materials, helped inspire me when creating, as we shared in the experience together, seeing what marks evolved out of it.
This experience has led me to believe that the lockdown restrictions we've all experienced, could help us to develop more ways of creating, collaborating and communicating online, enabling those otherwise restricted to access the Arts and experience the social interactions so crucial to mental health and wellbeing.
I invite you to watch, listen or join in, by creating your own marks in the moment, inspired by these tracks or any music you choose.
- Part One Of The 'Quink Dance' Collection - 'Piano'
Click on the above image to watch, listen or join in by creating your own marks in the moment, inspired by these tracks or any other music you choose to create to! I would love to hear about your experiences and see what you create along with the music you created it to at: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaangeladesign/
“My videos are inspired by my sessions online, exploring how artists with and without learning disabilities could create a positive space to produce artwork together during lockdown.
We discovered using music whilst creating together helped toward creating a positive atmosphere, as well as affecting the marks we produced.”
- Part Two Of The 'Quink Dance' Collection - 'Upbeat'
Click on the above image to watch, listen or join in by creating your own marks in the moment, inspired by these tracks or any other music you choose to create to! I would love to hear about your experiences and see what you create along with the music you created it to: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaangeladesign/
Our Journey
When working with Lucy (an Inclusive artist), Kat, Will and Laura (both Rocket artists: https://www.rocketartists.co.uk), we could only view each other in our own little boxes of reality through Zoom, and although this restricted us it did not stop us from creating together.
Utilizing the online platform instead allowed us all to collaborate and share a creative experience together that we would not have been able to do otherwise, due to the social distancing rules during Lock down.
Sharing what we did with each other also sparked more ideas and informed choices made in the tools I used and the marks I created.
My Artistic Response
I found that during the creative process of my artistic response, inspired by the 5 collaborative sessions on Zoom, the music I listened to affected the marks that I made, as well as the speed in which I made them.
On a personal level, I found the experience of allowing the music to evoke movements and design incredibly freeing, as I usually work on my designs over long periods of time, and as I looked back over my completed designs I could see my movements translated into the patterns, almost as if they were dancing.
Although working on my creative response was a surprisingly freeing experience, the collaborative process of working together online, whilst listening to music and working in the moment together, for me, was even more fruitful and inspiring, as we were sharing in the creative experience together, getting to know each other during discussions, making decisions as a whole group about the music we would be listening to and the materials we would be using, as well as sharing our ideas and creations together.
Working in the moment, as I did during my time collaborating with Lucy, Kat, Will and Laura,and letting the music inspire the marks I created, allowed for a completely different outcome to my usual design work, and it will be something I will carry forward within my own practice.
Finding Freedom In Restriction
'Initially restrictive, the limited space I worked in (see above image), allowing music to inspire the marks I made and creating in the moment just as I did during the online workshops, was incredibly freeing for me, and allowed for a completely different outcome to my usual design work'
We Are All Artists
We are all unique, and I believe that our personal experiences in life and different perspectives, among other things, influence our creativity.
In ‘What Is Art? Conversation With Joseph Beuys’, Volker Harlan states that ‘Beuys believed that Every human being was an artist.’ (Beuys and Harlan, 2010) pp.14
I also believe this statement to be true.
My time designing and experiencing collaborative creativity online workshops has inspired me to look at developing the idea of collaborative art exploration online.
I think that creating together on platforms such as Zoom, particularly to music, is something which could
benefit many of us, particularly people with limited movement or who are unable to
get out easily due to personal circumstances, for example those who have physical disabilities, the elderly and people who suffer with social anxiety, and find face to face socialising difficult or uncomfortable, after all, the restrictions that we have all experienced during Lockdown have proved a need for access to the Arts:
‘The lockdown and social distancing measures have made evident the importance of arts and culture for people’s mental well-being’ (OECD, n.d.)
Using online platforms to enable those who are restricted, to be able to access the Arts, as well as experience the social interactions that are so crucial to our mental health and wellbeing, has become a personal focus for me as an Inclusive arts practitioner, and I truly believe that this is something that could be incredibly beneficial for many of us, including those in marginalised groups.
LEFT: completed piece created whilst listening to 'Now The Silence; album by Juan Sánchez
ABOVE: completed piece created listening to varied upbeat tracks