Have you Herd?

The Herd Community (Not Herd Immunity) are moving in to The Hold (Suffolk Archives) at Ipswich Water Front. The virtual herd were created during the lockdown to keep people creating and connected via a facebook page (Ipswich Herd Community). The elephants and mammoths were made from upcycled milk bottles and hundreds of fabulous characters have been produced. ‘Stellaphant’, ‘Sir Trumps-a-lot’, ‘Unicornphant’, ‘Britney the Hairy Mammoth’-post head shave, ‘telephant’ and many many more. They should be ready for the public to see by October Half Term as part of The Global Events Exhibition: Suffolk Stories. Book your places now. Many of the submissions will go on the be donated to The Ipswich Museum Collection for future generations to enjoy.

The Hold is Open! Check out the Global Events Exhibition!

Hannah is exhibiting x2 of her #portraitsfornhsheroes works at the Global Events Exhibition at The Hold, alongside lockdown creations from Creative Change Workshops. This stunning building is a much needed exhibition space in Ipswich bringing Suffolk stories to life.

Mental Health Friends, Partnership Discussions: Art for Wellbeing

A great inter-agency discussion about Creative Change workshops and the benefits of art for wellbeing.  (Filmed before the drastic hair change!)

We have a 5 mins film with some sound distortion but… on the plus side;

• the picture is good

• the setting is good

• I think we’ve managed to include key topics that we talked about together on the day

• It encompasses our passion and heart for bringing about future projects

  (That we want/need to fund)

We’re three real people in a real place talking together… and perhaps, as with art, the recording doesn’t need to be perfect to be meaningful…#kintsugi philosophy and auto-captioning!

Team work makes the dream work. Multi-agency conversations bringing about positive change through community action. Simon King, Peter Richards and Hannah Ari...

University of Suffolk Success Stories

Read the full article on the University of Suffolk site here!

News Worthy

Ipswich Star have written a fabulous article about our #Between Spaces Project. Check it out!

Thankyou Arts Council England and Arts La'Olam!

This project is due to launch in June 2020! Get in touch to express your interest.

Latest Commission 'Freedom' Oil Pastels

Here are some ‘work in progress’ pics of my latest commission. Having just watched the Grayson Perry Art Club on Channel 4, I can relate to the idea of portraiture not being just about capturing a likeness but about presenting the emotions of special moments with deep, meaningful connections resonating from the work. These impressionist style oil pastel pieces are based on photographs. In a time of lock-down these moments of joy are to be cherished. Commissions open.

Priceless Treasures- My Greatest Creation

‘My Greatest Creation’ debuted at Art Fair East in 2018 and is now a contending submission for The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2020. The story behind the work:

At 18 years old I had been living alone in hostel (homeless) accommodation for 2 years and had some how managed to stay in school. I remember at 16, going out all night with my friends then returning to the hostel to shower and change before catching the bus to school (having had no sleep). 6th Form was better and I was studying Art and Performance Studies which I loved. Lancaster University had given me a conditional offer to study Art and Performing Arts which was my escape route from the poverty trap. My impulsive nature meant that I didn’t always make the best choices; often looking for love in all the wrong places. Needless to say that when I found out I was pregnant it was quite a shock. I knew that I would be bringing this child up alone and my hopes for a ‘better life’ seemed to have been shattered.

Despite the ‘Oh Shit’ moment, the idea of a tiny human growing inside me filled me with surprising wonder. I had an early scan at 8 weeks and saw what looked like a bean with a tiny heart beat. No arms or legs or anything just a blob. My blob. I fell in love at that moment. I know this is not everyone’s experience and I am certainly in no position to judge but I was blessed to have had such a strong bond from the beginning. Termination was simply not an option in my mind, so I considered this an ‘Eastenders style’ plot twist.

16 years later I can honestly say that my son is such a precious gift. Life was hard, I won’t lie but I kept moving forward. The University of life taught me some valuable lessons and eventually I did pursue higher education. I look back and see where I’ve come from and what a great future lies ahead.

This piece of art is not what some would assume to be a publicity stunt or shock tactics. Its my treasure, my story, my gold. Priceless not overpriced!

I made a large canvas and painted a heart upon it, then cut the canvas into tiny pieces and arranged them around the resin encapsulated pregnancy test. I embellished it with gold and iridescent pigments and poured out the clear resin to coat and capture it forever. The word survivor is engraved on a piece of metal in the centre. We are more than survivors we are blessed and the future is, as it always was, bright.

Recent Article on Linked In- The Person in the Arena: Artist Emergence

For those of you who don't know me, I'm a quirky, conceptual, mixed media Artist from England and have great taste in shoes!

This year has taken me on such a whirlwind of a journey and it is fair to say that ‘we’re not in Kansas anymore’. I followed the metaphorical yellow brick road with actual ruby slippers in 'toe' and met some fabulous characters along the way. I've exhibited at an international Art Fair, participated in an Abstract show at Londons’ Brick Lane Gallery, been a Featured Artist in Suffolk Open Studios (I didn’t have a studio) and have taken a celebrity (model) whale on an artistic photographic adventure that may have involved public crucifixion...of said whale.

(Jane Stewart’s Whale @jeffthehumpback)

I have learnt so much about making my dreams a reality. My dreams are not to be rich and famous (although a substantial shoe fund would be nice). This year has shown me that following your dreams is actually about daring greatly at the risk of failure. Trying when you do not know the outcome but living life fully; with no regrets. Brene Brown has written some excellent books on the subject. She highlights Theodore Roosevelt’s speech, ‘Citizenship in the Republic’, also referred to as ‘The Man in the Arena’, April 23rd 1910.

‘It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails whilst daring greatly, so his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.’ Theodore Roosevelt.

I am daring greatly, i am failing forward and achieving great things along the way. Never measure an Artist by how many paintings they sold this week. Look to the depth of their character and the fullness of their life (I will permit admiration of excellent shoe choice, however). I am now picturing the man in the arena in gold Cinderella shoes...Why the hell not?!! If you would like to follow my creative journey please check out my website.

Hannah Aria- First of her name.

50% Comedian 50% Philosopher 0% Conformist.