kentish town

DRAW! Alternative ways of drawing, Free Space Gallery

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What: Drawing workshops, drop-in sessions
When: May 6-27, 2016
Where: Free Space Gallery, KTHC, London, NW5 2BX

Our lead artist, Marie-Louise Plum, is running a series of drawing workshops at Free Space Gallery, Kentish Town Health Centre, from May 6-27 2016. Learn to draw using alternative techniques and unusual materials, including natural objects such as feathers, sticks and material.

These sessions are drop-in, meaning that you can just turn up, but where possible, please book online so we have some idea of numbers. If you can’t make it on the day, that’s okay, just cancel the booking. You can reserve your space at any of the four sessions in May, here.

Sessions run from 2-5pm every Friday during the month of May. No experience necessary, all materials provided. We will have a short break at 3:15pm every week. Refreshments provided.

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Installation viewing with added mince pies!

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Back in October, in collaboration with Free Space Gallery, Mental Spaghetti and eight contributors* made an outdoor installation. Using plaster of paris, we cast, carved and sculpted our way to making ex-voto style offerings, on plinths, to sit in the front garden of Free Space Gallery.

The collaborative sculptures are now installed in the front garden at Free Space Gallery, Kentish Town Health Centre. Please join us, this Friday 18th December, from 3-5pm at Free Space Gallery. Melissa from Free Space and Marie from Mental Spaghetti will be there, with mince pies and mulled wine, and we hope that you can all make it along to view the installation.

As well as seeing our work in the garden, there’s also an opportunity for you to view the latest Free Space Gallery exhibition – ‘Vulnera’. Hope to see you there!

*If you would like to take part in making something like this artwork, look out for upcoming workshops by following the MS blog.

Spirit Parlour at Free Space Gallery

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What: Exhibition and workshops
Where: Free Space Gallery, Kentish Town, London
When:Opening Night: Wednesday 11th November, show runs 2-27/11/15

Artist in residence Philly Hunt showcases her work in progress, ‘Spirit Parlour’, on the theme of ‘safe spaces’, identity, memory and talismans.

The show and workshops are an extension of Philly’s personal experiences. Philly says “I have suffered with chronic anxiety for 7 years, and severe depression at times. Last summer I began a course of hypnotherapy, having tried CBT to no avail. Everything has changed completely for me, and I am overcoming my anxiety and depression very well. Previously, I never dreamed of being able to take on a residency like this, to do a show, and run workshops.”

We’ll be dropping in to see Philly this week, and speak to her about how hypnotherapy has helped to change her life and overcome her problems with anxiety and depression, as well as taking part in her workshop at Free Space Gallery this Friday. For more information about the Talisman workshops, please click this link, and scroll down to Friday 13th November. Philly is running a series of three workshops, starting this Friday.

Free Space Gallery are asking for everyone reading to please “join us for the open evening for a chance to meet the artist Wednesday 11th November 6.30 – 9pm .

We hope to see you there!

World Mental Health Day: Create an outdoor installation with us!

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What: Workshops to create an outdoor installation
Where: Freespace Gallery, 2 Bartholomew Road, London, NW5
When: Friday 9th, 16th and 23rd October

In celebration and support of World Mental Health Day 2015 , in collaboration with Free Space Gallery, and in support of the Mental Health Foundation, we will be constructing a plaster of paris outdoor installation which will live in the Well-beeing Garden at Free Space Gallery.

Join us from 2-5pm on the 9th, 16th and 23rd October to design, create and install plaster representations of your memories – good, or bad. Our memories will be cast in the style of ex-voto offerings, a votive offering left at shrines of deities, saints or divinities. In the latin world ex-votos are left in a ‘wishing’ way, perhaps to mend a broken foot, or to ask for the blessing of a child, to cure an unwell heart or even to ask for your local football team to win a game. You can read more about ex-voto offerings here.

We will be casting our memory-related objects, then install them on plinths to display to all visiting Free Space Gallery. The art objects will start life as a small shape, cast from a mould, then carved into either something figurative, such as a body part, or representation of someone dear, or something symbolic, perhaps a shape relating to a special memory. In leaving these offerings, we will either be celebrating a fond memory, representing something or someone special to us, or casting free bad experiences or troubles.

 
Ex-voto offerings from around the world.

All materials will be provided, but please, if possible, bring an apron or wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty (although nothing will stain!). We will be using the following materials: plaster of paris, water, acrylic paint, craft knives, files, surforms and sandpaper.

Tickets are free, as usual, although you must book your space. To reserve a space on the three workshops, or, if you can’t make all three, a particular workshop, sign up on our events page at Eventbrite. If you have any problems with signing up, send us an email and we can help.