Social Script:

here as we are

 For 6 months we creatively explored themes of Journeys, Hopes, Dreams, and Paradise  with local professional artists of several disciplines to make an exhibition at Partisan Collective, here as we are. For this raw, and tender project we opened our intimate circle of regulars to include friends from other organisations including 42nd Street, and The Booth Centre and discovered new ways to share stories (and pizza), connect ideas, and find similarities in the process. We developed poetry, stories, and films with theatre and installation artists Gráinne Flynn and Kate Ireland, a song and audio journey with musician Martim Pocinho, and translated our written work into a variety of visual and sculptural pieces with mixed media artist Sally Gilford. 

With Kate and Gráinne we explored storytelling in multiple forms; narrating our past, present and futures through collective writing, reading, chatting, making and playing. We found ways to shed light on difficult memories, as well as find the universal and profound in mundane, everyday moments. We wrote and talked about the things we would bring with us from different stages in our lives, using objects and totems from previous selves to discover who we are in the present. We explored ideas of paradise, and what we imagine it to look and feel like, and whether it is a place we can return to, or are still looking for. We created a delicate, handwritten, visual and aural archive of material, creating pockets of stories and experiences. When brought together these fragments create a vision of a complex, creative group of people with diverse lives and stories. 

With Sally we created Illuminated lampshade t–shirts which expressed parts of the past that the group want to leave behind. The shedding of skin and letting go. Using Midjourney, a generative artificial intelligence program, we created accompanying visuals which nod to the past and also look to the future. ‘Badges of positivity” acted as a worn reminder to hold fast and stay true to ourselves. The group also created love locks, traditionally attached to bridges to symbolise love, featuring promises of love and aspirations we promised to ourselves to take into the future. 

With Martim, we co-wrote and produced a song called Shine. The song illustrates the feeling of growth and community felt during the sessions. Using collaborative production and songwriting techniques, we developed the song from a few chords to a finished piece. Based on the theme of Journey we generated an audio story of someone on their way to a Social Script workshop at Our Room. This was created from objects we found in the room: the microwave, the kettle, pencil sharpeners, the doorbell… 

Photos: Joe Smith

Video Credit: Bysshe Harkavy / Terra Forma 

Music by Martim Pocinho and Our Room Creatives

Creative Producers: Sam Redway and Hannah Woods

Thank you to all of our artists, to all creatives at Our Room, and to Partisan Collective for hosting the exhibition!