Latest news from 'Freddie' doing community art in Pakistan
Well, tonight I am filthy dirty, my hands are those of an ancient navvy, my few good nails ripped to shreds, I am aching all over - and happy as a frisky young bunny! Life is sweet, and all is right in Freddie World!
Just completed 3 days of gruelling mosaic making with 60 or so older teenagers, Mixed sexes, and even though it took place in the Community centre of a Roman Catholic school, many were Muslim. several of the girls fully veiled - though I would like it known, so pass it on, please, to all the Islamicphobics, that it was the veiled ones who were the most enthusiastic and hunkered down and assisted me and the boys whom I was instructing in cement mixing for the grout. Though all joined in with the actual mosaic making. A really good sharing experience, and they appreciated my given philosophical and spiritual message, and speech, of the joy of bringing damaged and broken and discarded pieces together to create a new thing of beauty and inspiration, which I applied to the mosaic making. And Salma, the Director, gave them a speech later which seemed inspiring, (and glowing about me and my Mission work) though not in english. Luckily the kids spoke English more or less. I have had 100 cement round bases made, so have lots left over to do many more projects.
It was quite hard to find coloured thin 'normal' tiles, Pakistan's 6th biggest industry is marble, (my researching is lavish and I am becoming a mine of info on mining marble) so everyone uses fantastic heavy marble in their kitchens and bathrooms, far too thick and heavy for my work, but had to compremise the first 2 sessions by laying mosaics on huge slabs of marble, that we in the UK would die for! As my order for bases was late.
Also last week went with Salma and her Father deep into the Punjab, about four hours driving there, and four back, to a village called Gillwallah, where I did my painted Jigsaw Cross Project with some charming but dirt poor kids in a primary school, surrounded by fields and fields or orange trees, sugar cane and sweetcorn. Next thursday, I think, we are off to Lahore for 6 days, lots more projects to do and a days Seminar teaching School Teachers, on Community Art. So more news doubtless to come.
Time to dive under my mosquito net - but will these hands ever be clean! the cement is rock hard under my nails!
love all around
freddie
We received the following inspiring report from Frederica in Pakistan:
Painted Jigsaw Project:
The individual paintings are assembled
I have been busy, and the photos show why. These are from a Community Art Project that I devised. The idea, in brief (proper proposal on demand if requested) is to make a Painted 'Jigsaw' Cross, composing of 12 squares, each one divided into 2, ie two triangles.To be painted individually by the 'Group', making 24 separate paintings. Then finally assembled by the Group to form a Cross.The reasoning behind this is laden by symbolism, numerology, and Biblical knowledge, old and new Testaments. The number 12 is significant especially as 3 is the Sacred Number, as in Trinity, and 4 as the Earthly number (think 4 corners of the earth). Making 12 a Perfect Number.
Painted Jigsaw Project
Profound Group Decision making
Wikipedia has long and wonderful lists of where 12 crops up, not only for Christians, but in almost all religions too, plus inches in a foot etc etc. The children, I originally expected 12 but over 30 turned up for the first session, including several associated generations, grasped the intent at once, and I encouraged them to paint freely, and brightly, while initially they were read from Revalations 21. v.10-21, (very last section of Bible) which explains in beautiful imagery the Holy City, with 12 almost everything, pearls, jewels etc, all very bright and beautiful (unlike some of revelations which is quite gruesome).
Enough said, enjoy the colours and shapes they produced. Even if the symbolism leaves you cold! This idea has great potential though in many mediums and I intend to exploit it to the Max.
Aamir from CMS has an idea for me to design one in different marbles and stones, for something large and outside.
Painted Jigsaw Project
All glued and ready when dry to hang.
