Impact Arts

A special exhibition of artwork
produced by older people is to open in Paisley next week.

“Memories” is an original
collection of multimedia artwork created by older people who take part in Impact Arts’ Craft
Café workshops in Paisley, Barrhead
and Johnstone.

Following a launch on Tuesday 28th
February 2017, the artwork will be on display at Paisley Museum and Art
Galleries from March 1st until to March 4th, with members of the public
encouraged to come along and appreciate the craft behind the work.

The Memories collection was
inspired by reminiscing about childhood, wartime, family and nightlife. The
Craft Café members then worked for a number of weeks on artwork of various
kinds, including drawings, paintings, textiles, heraldry and glass decorations.

Craft Café workshops give older
people an opportunity to work with an artist-in-residence on a variety of
artistic and creative projects, teaching them new skills while providing a safe
and welcoming environment to socialise.

Anne Marie Wilson is the lead
tutor for Craft Café workshops in Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire.

She said: “It’s really exciting
for the members of the Craft Cafes to have this exhibition open to the public,
and especially in a beautiful setting like Paisley Museum and Art Galleries.

“They have worked incredibly hard
putting this collection together, using techniques that some were not familiar
with before. They have created a fantastic end result for the public, touching
on some memories that people will laugh and cry at, and enjoy delving into.

“It’s incredibly important that
people are appreciated in later life, whether creatively or otherwise.
Exhibitions like this one help to show older people they are valued, and I hope
many people can make it along and see the skill and effort involved.”

The “Memories” exhibition will be
open between 11am and 4pm from Wednesday 1st March until Saturday 4th March
2017.

The Craft Cafe is co-ordinated by
Impact Arts and supported by FLAIR housing associations and ROAR Connections
for Life. Workshops run in Paisley, Barrhead and Johnstone on a weekly
basis. If you are aged 60+ and interested in joining, please contact Anne Marie
on 07976623552 or email [email protected].