Transitions Art Group

Orleans House Gallery

February 2015- December 2015

Supported by the
Normansfield and Richmond Foundation

Transitions Art Group

Transitions Art Group is a weekly creative arts session for young people and adults
(aged 18+) with learning disabilities and additional needs living within Richmond
upon Thames.
Sessions are held every Monday between 4-6pm in the Coach House at Orleans
House Gallery.
In Transitions Art Group participants

develop their confidence and life skills through the arts.

work towards qualifications (Arts Award and AQA Awards).
develop creative knowledge and practical making skills.
learn how to prepare for exhibitions and events.
meet new people in a fun and relaxed environment.
work with and alongside professional artists and Orleans House gallery staff.

Front Cover: Make and Create Project 1: Participant using a heat press to produce a design for a lampshade.
Above: Make and Create Project 1: Mark Making workshop

In February 2015 Orleans House Gallery received 3,973 from the Normansfield and
Richmond Foundation to run two creative projects Make and Create and Active
Art. Both of these projects had two strands, totally 4 mini projects the group would
be part of throughout 2015.
We worked with

15 young people and adults with differing learning disabilities and additional
needs from Richmond Upon Thames (this included 3 new members joining in
2015)
4 young people who used the project to work towards an Arts Award (3 Silver
and 1 Gold)
10 artists and Orleans House Gallery Staff
24 volunteers
1625 members of the public through exhibitions and events by Transitions
Art Group

We ran
29 practical workshops for young people and adults with learning disabilities
and additional needs
9 exhibitions and events showcasing the work created by the group to the
general public.

Make and Create Project 1: Detail of Tote Bag designed by Anthony Hughes

Make and Create

Project 1: Producing Transitions Art Group Product Range
Date: Mondays 30th February- 27th April (7 sessions)
Orleans House Gallery Artist: Kate Kennedy, Ursula Kelly and Jasleen Kaur
In this project participants worked with Orleans House Gallery artists to create their
own unique product range, consisting of printed lampshades, tea towels, tote bags,
ceramic tiles and cushions. These products are now on sale in the Orleans House
Gallery shop, on the Transitions online Etsy shop and at pop up events.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/OrleansHouseGallery
To create the range participants took inspiration from different methods of transport
through time, as this was theme of the up coming theme of the exhibition Beep
Beep! Planes, trains and automobiles (Stables Gallery, Orleans House Gallery: 28 th
May- 30th August).
Orleans House Gallery artists taught the group a variety of printing and mark making
techniques to produce their chosen imagery. The group made decisions on product
design, pricing, marketing and business logistics. The group have co-run the
Transitions Pop Up Shop at different events throughout the year including
Twickenham Carnival, Learning Disability Awareness Week, St Margrets Summer
Fair and Orleans House Gallery Christmas Fair.

Main Project Outcomes

- Participants learnt and developed new skills in printmaking and product design.
- Participants learnt about different methods of transport from different time
periods.
- Participants learnt about product design and getting products to market
- Participants learnt how to set up shop, make business related decisions, solve
logistical problems, problems and handle money
- Participants learnt how to market a product by taking high quality photographs,
setting up an online shop and making flyers to advertise their range.

Top: Make and Create Project 1: Printing Workshop

Bottom: Participant running the Transitions Pop Up Shop at Twickenham Carnival

Active Art
Project 1: Carnival!
Date: Mondays 11th May- 8th June (4 sessions)
Orleans House Gallery Artist: Michelle Reader
In this project the group worked with artist Michelle Reader to create parade
artwork for the Twickenham Carnival 2015. With the countries of the Rugby World
Cup been the theme of the carnival, the group took on the country of New Zealand
as the inspiration for their artworks. The group learnt about the countrys symbol of
a white fern and created large fern sculptures for them to carry on the day of the
carnival.

Main Project Outcomes

- Participants learnt to produce large-scale artwork working together as a
group.
- Participants learnt about countries of the world and the symbols of different
countries.
- Participants developed creative skills based on sculpture, 3D modelling and
installation.
- Participants developed important social skills, working together as a group
and with the wider community.
- Participants learnt how to showcase their artwork, building upon their
confidence in their arts practice.
- Participants learnt about the history of sport in the local area, reflecting on
the borough art collection.

Top: Active Art Project 1: The group at Twickenham Carnival

Bottom: Active Art Project 1: Participant at Twickenham Carnival

Active Art
Project 2: Creativity in Motion
Date: Mondays 15th June- 20th July (6 sessions)
Orleans House Gallery Artist: Kate Kennedy, Ursula Kelly
In this project the group were given the brief of producing art games which they
then lead the general public in during a Transitions Open studios at Learning
Disability Awareness Week 2015.
The group used their personal creative strengths and their sporting interests to
develop the games, experimenting with different materials and creative
techniques. The group also took inspiration from the current exhibition Team Spirit:
Rugby, Rowing and Beyond at Orleans House Gallery 6th June- the November 2015.
The games that the group produced included Tennis Weaving, Mark Making
Gymnastics and Art History Yoga.
Each participant prepared the materials and equipment they needed presenting
their game at the Open Studios and learnt how to confidently explain what the
participants needed to do. The Open Studios attracted 25 visitors.
Main Project Outcomes
- Participants learnt to produce participatory activities for the general public,
building upon their confidence in their arts practice.
- Participants developed drawing and painting skills through immersive mark
making.
- Participants learnt how to make creative decisions based on their own ideas
and arts practice.
- Participants developed important social skills, learning how to create
individual artworks but then bringing them together as a group.
- Participants learnt about the history of sport in the local area.
- Participants learnt about Abstract Expressionists Artists, and other artists
who use mark making in their arts practice.
- Participants were encouraged to be physically activity (as much as possible)
and proactive within the sessions to produce energetic creative responses.

Top: Active Art Project 2: Participant leading Tennis Weaving Workshop

Bottom: Active Art Project 2: Participant leading Art History Yoga Workshop

Make and Create

Project 2: The Cabinet of Curiosity
Date: Mondays 14th September 14th December (12 sessions)
Orleans House Gallery Artist: Kate Kennedy, Ursula Kelly and Rosie Whitney-Fish
To kick off the project the group visited Normansfield Theatre and Langdon Down
Museum where they documented their favourite objects and images in photographs
and drawings. The group then used their images to produce 2D puppets, using a
range of printing techniques. The group learnt how to build up different textures to
produce a finished puppet. The final puppets included a boat, a bird and crown.
The group brought the puppets to life in producing a stop frame animation named
The Cabinet of Curiosity. They used professional camera equipment and computer
software to capture the movements of their puppet. You can watch this animation
here https://vimeo.com/148933741
To end the project the group worked with Choreographer Rosie Whitney-Fish to
produce a creative performance involving acting and movement. The group
imagined they were statues that came alive in museum at night with one member
acting as the museum guard. The group recited their performance at their Winter
Exhibition in front of an audience of 60 people.
Main Project Outcomes
- Participants learnt about the history of the Normansfield Theatre and Langdon
Down Museum
- Participants learnt and developed new skills in printmaking and puppet making.
- Participants learnt how to use professional computer and camera equipment in
making a stop frame animation.
- Participants learnt how to develop initial sketches and ideas into a finished
outcome.
- Participants learnt about performance and how to interpret images into
movement.
- Participants learnt how to showcase their arts practice in different methods,
building upon their confidence in themselves as an artist.
- 5 participants from the group gained volunteering experience by assisting with a
family puppet making workshop.
- Participants developed important social skills, learning how to create individual
artworks but then bringing them together as a group.

Top: Make and Create Project 2: The group in a screen printing workshop
Bottom: Make and Create Project 2: The group practising their final performance

Transitions Art Group Exhibitions and Events 2015

Impressions of Richmond, Corridor Gallery, Orleans House Gallery, February

April 2015
Autism Awareness Week Exhibition, Octagon room, Orleans House Gallery,
29th March 3rd April 2015
On your Marks! Coach House, Orleans House Gallery, 17th June 2015
Octagon and Transitions Summer Exhibition, Octagon room, Orleans House
Gallery, July 2015
Transitions Pop Up Shop, Langdon Down Centre, 19th June 2015
Transitions Pop Up Shop, Orleans House Gallery, 26th June 2015
Transitions Pop Up Shop, St Margrets Summer Fair, 11th July 2015
Transitions and Octagon Takeover Church Street, Twickenham, Saturday
24th October 2015
Octagon and Transitions Winter Exhibition, Octagon room, Orleans House
Gallery, July 2015

Up and Coming Exhibition

The Cabinet of Curiosity, The Langdon Down Centre, February 2016- June
2016

Active Art Project 2: Members of the general public in Art History Yoga Workshop

Project Feedback

Very good- all good!

Transitions Participant
Awesome, learning about art is fun!
Transitions Participant

I loved it and the audience at the exhibition love to watch me!

Transitions Participant

The work you do with the group is extraordinary. You are knowledgeable and
talented Artists in your own right allowing individuals of varying ability to access your
sophisticated projects as it works for them, completely naturally and is at a level that
is rare. The group are comfortable in the knowledge that they matter and the quality
of what you share and bring to them shows in how the group perform, in their
commitment and the results are outstanding. You are a credit to the borough and
your work with people with needs is advanced. This also demonstrates once again
the absolute value of Art and the existence of Art as an undisputable means of
therapy and expression for all, including people who have the hardest job of
expressing themselves.
Parent speaking about the work of the Education Team at Orleans House Gallery on
Transitions Art Group Projects 2015